Penny Conly Ellison

Penny Conly Ellison serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching Animal Law and Ethics while supervising animal protection pro bono projects since 2006. She concurrently holds significant roles as Circuit Mediator for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (mediating 1000+ civil cases with 40% settlement rate) and Executive Director of Hand2Paw, a nonprofit connecting homeless youth with shelter animals through structured volunteering programs.

Her educational foundation includes a B.S. in Mathematics from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where she served as editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.

Ellison's scholarly focus centers on Animal Law with particular emphasis on legislative gaps, enforcement challenges, and the intersection of animal welfare with property and criminal law. Her work critically examines cruelty standards for outdoor animals, living property seizure protocols, and legislative implementation barriers, while advocating for systemic reforms through both academic scholarship and direct nonprofit engagement. She frequently speaks at Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminars on these topics.

Publication analysis reveals consistent thematic development from 2007-2014, progressing from theoretical advocacy critiques to concrete legislative strategies and practical enforcement solutions, demonstrating deepening engagement with implementational realities in animal protection law.

No scientific awards are documented in the source material.

While supervising pro bono projects involving animal protection, no specific student advisees or formal academic mentoring relationships are named. Her professional impact extends through Hand2Paw's operational model rather than traditional research grants, integrating youth outreach with animal shelter support systems.

Through Hand2Paw, Ellison directs innovative programming that creates mutually beneficial partnerships between homeless youth and animal shelters, developing structured internships that build vocational skills while addressing shelter volunteer shortages and enhancing animal socialization.