Meet the Team Behind VegNews

Passionate about publishing and media, Colleen Holland is the co-founder of VegNews. Since its launch in 2000, she has grown the vegan lifestyle brand into an award-winning, international media company complete with a flagship magazine, digital properties, events, and global vacations.

A graduate of UCLA and the Natural Gourmet Institute, Colleen is one of just six people worldwide to have been elected into both the Vegetarian Hall of Fame and the Animal Rights Hall of Fame. In early 2018, she was named one of the country’s top women in media. A 24-year ethical vegan, Colleen is a die-hard yogi and the founder of the Healthy Vegan lifestyle brand.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A steaming bowl of laksa soup, a Malaysian specialty with rice noodles, tofu, and vegetables in a fragrant coconut broth.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

People love my Thai yellow curry with fresh vegetables, tofu, and cilantro.

With previously held jobs such as Starbucks barista, an intern for an LGBTQ magazine seemingly dedicated only to white men, and a reluctant market transcriber of iPhone voice commands made by Australians, Richie found his perfect fit at VegNews in 2015. Now, he lives his best life writing copy, editing photos, brainstorming how to make veganism more inclusive, and eating croutons.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Roasted Brussels sprouts and mac and cheese. On top of poutine.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Beyond Meat tostadas with cabbage and cashew sour cream.

Jasmin’s background in media, writing, and social justice has finally culminated in her dream role as the Senior Editor for VegNews. She is the author of the memoir Always Too Much and Never Enough, was named a “40 Under 40” by The Advocate, and is the co-host of the weekly, Webby-recognized Our Hen House podcast. Jasmin has presented book talks, workshops, and keynotes at venues around the globe, and debuted her Tedx talk, “Compassion Unlocks Identity,” last year. Though she officially came on board with VegNews in 2016, Jasmin first approached Publisher Colleen Holland for a job more than ten years prior, proving that she is the most relentless person ever.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A macro plate with tahini-dill dressing.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

If I wanted to dazzle them, I wouldn’t cook. I’m very good at ordering in!

Sutton has been VegNews’ Art Director since 2006. Creating beautiful magazine pages with a great team is her dream job. In addition to doing what she loves, Sutton has also been honored to win numerous awards for her designs. When not collaborating on new layouts or hunting for the perfect font, Sutton loves taking urban hikes with her rescued hound dog, Chloe, and going to the movies. Her new favorite food is the almond butter, cocoa, and cherry smoothie she has for breakfast every day.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Quinoa pasta with Field Roast Italian sausage cooked in a simple red sauce. It’s the best comfort food!

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Why cook when you can go out? We would get on a plane to LA and head to straight to Locali to eat vegan reubens as fast as they could make them.

Co-founding a travel media brand in 2009 to pursue a career in writing, Anna joined the VegNews team in 2015 eager to produce quality content in line with her passion for the vegan lifestyle. She now scouts the vegan world for newsworthy stories and loves discovering new cruelty-free products. A graduate of UCSD, Anna is fascinated by food, travel, and world culture. She has lived in Ukraine, Los Angeles, Spain, Brooklyn, and San Francisco and loves to scout new vegan places everywhere she goes.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Spring rolls stuffed with fresh vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, cilantro, and mint with a spicy peanut sauce.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Smoked carrot-wrapped tofu over a roasted garlic cauliflower purée.

Joni Marie Newman is a long-time vegan for the animals who has written and co-written more than ten vegan cookbooks. She keeps pretty busy (when she isn’t scouring the interwebs for the next great food feature for VegNews!) working most days on a family-owned, thirty-acre farm, teaching vegan cooking classes, volunteering and organizing vegan events, and raising awareness about veganism with a pro-intersectional approach through various outreach activities. Joni has a love of all foods and flavors and is constantly in awe and inspired by amazing chefs and their foods from all cultures.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Thick and creamy, extra noochy, vegan mac and cheese.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

A perfectly grilled Beyond Burger patty melt on cracked wheat sourdough with Follow Your Heart Provolone and a thick layer of roasted garlic aioli.

Growing up without a television, Aurelia d’Andrea relied on library books and stacks of old National Geographic magazines for entertainment. The latter fueled her imagination and inspired an insatiable lust for travel. Since going vegan in 2000, she has eaten her way through India, Morocco, Israel, and dozens of other countries, relishing the food and the nonstop adventure. In 2010, she traded life in San Francisco for a Right Bank apartment in Paris, where she lives with her husband and their beloved mutt, Fanny.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A crunchy corn tortilla topped with rice, beans, lettuce, fresh guacamole, and homemade chipotle salsa.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

A cool rice-noodle salad with vegetables.

A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, Sarah earned her Bachelor degree in modern literature. While at UCSC, Sarah was an active member of the campus vegan animal-rights club and a copy editor for the campus newspaper. Her passion for animal rights, veganism, and sustainable living led her to the editorial assistant position at Fresh Healthy Media. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, baking vegan treats, reading, and playing with her cat, Eloise.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Thai green curry with tofu, fresh vegetables, and a spicy coconut curry sauce.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Eggplant lasagna with tofu ricotta and a cashew cheese sauce!

As a graduate of Colorado State University, Aruka’s curious nature and compassion for all living beings led her to VegNews. With a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media Communications and a minor in Philosophy, Aruka is passionate about writing and pondering the universe. In her free time, Aruka enjoys exploring coffee shops, watching Game of Thrones, and going on adventures.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Bowl of Soul from Sage. 

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Something from Whole Foods and pass it off as a home-cooked meal.

Maya’s passion for all things vegan and lifelong love of animals have inspired her books and many articles, now bringing her to her role as Digital Editor at Fresh Healthy Media. She is the author of the lifestyle book Vegan Love: Dating and Partnering for the Cruelty-Free Gal and children’s picture book Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary. She has been a speaker at VegFests throughout the country. In her free time, Maya enjoys reading, watching birds in her backyard, and spending time with her three rescue cats, Gandalf, Bunny, and Lucian.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I have an endless appetite for the Indian eggplant dish, Baingan Bharta.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

I’ve served the curried carrot bisque recipe from Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s Vegan with a Vengeance at two holiday dinners, receiving rave reviews from even carnivorous guests.

With 20 years’ experience in magazine publishing, Nicole brings her passion for creating engaging content and an endless fascination with the latest cruelty-free products and initiatives. A vegan of two decades, she is co-author of DIY Vegan—a cookbook that teaches you how to make your own vegan staples from scratch—and host of the award-winning food blog, A Dash of Compassion. Nicole also dabbles in food photography and shoots for vegan cookbooks on a contract basis. Find Nicole on Twitter and Instagram at @adashofvegan.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A gigantic kale Caesar salad with garlic croutons, hemp parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes, alongside an even bigger serving of crispy sweet potato fries. 

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Something familiar and comforting: vegan cutlets (made from wheat gluten for a meaty texture), along with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, and green beans.

Residing in the ultra-hip vegan capital of the US, Portland, OR, Laurie is a 20-year vegetarian and 10-year vegan. Before joining the VegNews team in 2005, Laurie was the Northwest Director of In Defense of Animals and a loan officer in the escrow industry. She considers VegNews a great way to softly educate the masses on a more gentle, healthy lifestyle. Laurie’s passions include hiking with her dogs and traveling the globe trying every great (veggie) restaurant she stumbles upon.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Tacos filled with rice, black beans, avocado, salsa, lettuce, and onions.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

Tacos! I might also include tortilla chips, guacamole, and margeritas.

An eight-year vegan, Carol has a long history of working in print media, and is the founder of The Write Cause, a letter-writing service for animal and environmental rights. When she’s not playing with her cats—Pierre, Domino, and Rita—she’s practicing Kundalini yoga and working on her fourth animal rights-themed novel.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Steamed potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil, Spike, and garlic powder.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

The vegan creme brûlée from the VegNews Recipe Club. It’s absolutely amazing!

Laurie’s life-long love of all things creative and crafty led her to the Rhode Island School of Design where she graduated with a BFA in photography. She has been working in the stationery industry for more than 20 years and is the co-founder and current owner of Two Trick Pony, supplying greetings and gifts to ethically and environmentally minded folks. She happily joined the VegNews team in 2016 as the Artwork Manager.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Fresh mangos, lots and lots of them.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?
I would serve them my vegan baked mac ‘n’ cheese. Absolutely everyone loves it, vegan or not!

With a background working for Silicon Valley internet, media, and design companies, Nick’s interest in animals, food sustainability, and health brought him to Fresh Healthy Media. A UC Berkeley graduate with an MBA from the University of San Diego, Nick has traveled around the world—including a two-year stint in Japan.

If you could eat just one veg meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The baked falafel shawarma made deluxe from Herbivore Restaurant.

What veg dish would you cook to dazzle a veg-curious but still carnivorous friend?

My baked tofu and raw kale salad has pleasantly surprised many of my non-veg friends and family.