Passionate about changing the way we care for and handle animals living in captive environments, Autumn became an Animal Welfare Scientist and worked to improve the conditions of animals in laboratories, zoos, and on farms.

She eventually trained in Applied Behavior Analysis, working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder who taught her that joy and agency could be achieved when the learner was at the center of the decision making. Autumn was able to apply this to an animal care program which saw immense success and still today leads the industry in progressive animal welfare.