Jerran O.

About Jerran O.

As Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden continues to invest in creating a brighter future for people and wildlife, we have expanded opportunities for our staff, visitors, and community to connect with nature and develop the skills needed to be conservation leaders. The Conservation Impact department supports several programs that focus on conservation leadership, including our Conservation Impact Fellows from around the world, Zoo staff Coexistence Champions, ZooTeens (13-17 year olds), and AIP Graduate Students with Project Dragonfly, as well as how we promote conservation actions to our audiences through interpretive strategies and habitat design. To achieve our goals for these programs and continue building more opportunities, I get to serve these programs as the Zoo\'s Senior Manager of Conservation Leadership Programs.My previous main role at Cincinnati Zoo was running their portion of the master\'s degree program (Advanced Inquiry Program) accredited by Miami University. This program focuses on environmental stewardship, community engagement, inquiry, and participatory education. I served as an advisor to all CZBG graduate students, as well as instructed several courses (web-based, Zoo on site, & international field expeditions) for the program.Before my time in Cincinnati, I was at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium overseeing interpretive programs and education special events, as well as assisting in children\'s zoo programming, on-grounds programs, professional development workshops, and more.I also am a trainer and curriculum developer for the National Network of Ocean & Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) workshop series based out of New England Aquarium, working with climate science communicators across the country to get the word out to the general public about climate change impacts.

Experience

1. Sr Manager of Conservation Leadership Programs

   Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

   Apr 2024 — Present · Cincinnati, OH, US

   As Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden continues to invest in creating a brighter future for people and wildlife, we have expanded opportunities for our staff, visitors, and community to connect with nature and develop the skills needed to be conservation leaders. The Conservation Impact department supports several programs that focus on conservation leadership, including our Conservation Impact Fellows from around the world, Zoo staff Coexistence Champions, ZooTeens (13-17 year olds), and AIP Graduate Students with Project Dragonfly, as well as how we promote conservation actions to our audiences through interpretive strategies and habitat design. To achieve our goals for these programs and continue building more opportunities, I get to serve these programs as the Zoo\'s Senior Manager of Conservation Leadership Programs.

Education

• The School for Field Studies

  Wildlife Management

  2007 — 2007

• Miami University

  M.A. Zoology, Zoology/Animal Biology

  2009 — 2011

• Calvin University

  B.S. Honors Biology, Biology/Biological Sciences, General

  2004 — 2007