Dr. Slater obtained her DVM and PhD from Cornell University. Dr. Slater was a Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University from 1990 until 2008 when she joined the ASPCA.  She continues as an Adjunct Professor at TAMU and Fellow the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Dr. Slater currently leads the interdisciplinary research team at the ASPCA. Present projects focus on creating and publishing evidence to support increasing access to veterinary care. Dr. Slater is also internationally recognized for her work on the problems and solutions for free-roaming cats and dogs. She is a member of the International Scientific Advisory Council of the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs. 

In 2022, she was a frequent speaker on topics relating to lower cost, effective veterinary care and trap, neuter and return for community cat population control. She has more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and 2 books—many since joining the ASPCA.