Meet AZA: Winter 2022

NEW Zoo Welcomes New Director: The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park is welcoming their new director. Carmen Murach attended college at UW-Madison and spent a decade working as a research scientist there, and also volunteered at the Henry Vilas Zoo. Murach has been with the NEW Zoo for many years and was first hired for a full-time position in 1995 as their first full-time zookeeper.?Before that, she worked in a part-time capacity in roles such as zookeeper and education coordinator.?In 2006 she became the Curator of Animals, and maintained that position until becoming director.

North Carolina Aquarium Society Announces Liz Baird as President and Chief Executive Officer: The board of directors announced the appointment of Liz Baird as president and chief Executive officer of the North Carolina Aquarium Society, with a transition date expected in mid-February. Baird succeeds Jay Barnes, who announced his forthcoming retirement in August following a forty-year career with the NC Aquariums, including twenty years as director of the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the past four years as president and chief executive officer of the Society. Baird joins the Society after serving as director at the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores for the past three years, where she helped guide the facility through the pandemic and fostered an environment of innovation, integrity, and inclusivity, according to staff.?

Shedd Aquarium Elevates Dr. Karisa Tang to Vice President of Animal Health: Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Ill., promoted Dr. Karisa Tang to vice president of animal health. In this role, Dr. Tang will oversee the Aquarium’s animal health team, which is responsible for the pioneering work in aquatic animal welfare in the A. Watson Armour III Center for Animal Health and Welfare. She will advance preventative care and treatment for patients and emphasize care for animals beyond the Aquarium’s walls and conservation science. She will also provide strategic oversight for animal welfare throughout the renovations and modernization of the historic aquarium galleries over the next several years as part of Shedd’s Centennial Commitment.?

New England Aquarium names Ferris Batie as its Vice President of Campus Operations: The New England Aquarium has welcomed Ferris Batie as Vice President of Campus Operations. In this role, Batie will manage the strategy for all Aquarium infrastructures and campuses, including capital planning and design, exhibit and master planning support, and all building operations in the main Aquarium building, Simons Theatre, and all other Aquarium properties.

Milwaukee County Zoo Names New Senior Staff Veterinarian: The Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee, Wisc., has promoted Christy Rettenmund to senior staff veterinarian. She previously held the role of the Zoo’s staff veterinarian for more than four years. As Senior Staff Veterinarian, Rettenmund will oversee the Zoo’s Animal Health Center staff and expenditures and will provide veterinary oversight for the Zoo’s robust population of more than 2,100 animals, which includes not only veterinary care but nutrition, animal transfers, enrichment, and training. She will also provide mentorship for veterinary student externs and oversee a collaborative veterinary residency program with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine and the International Crane Foundation. Of the residents she has mentored at the Milwaukee County Zoo, all have become American College of Zoological Medicine board-certified, with professional careers at zoos and universities across the country.

Amanda Felix Named the Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at MOTE: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, Fla., announced the appointment of Amanda Felix to the position of diversity and inclusion advisor to the president and chief operating officer. This newly established position builds upon Mote’s national leadership initiatives to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities in marine research and aquarium science. In accepting this appointment, Felix will also be able to continue her research as a Mote Aquarium Biologist III while she coordinates and collaborates with Mote’s ongoing National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation: Marine Science Laboratory Alliance Center of Excellence (MarSci-LACE) and related programs.

Proehl named education coordinator at David Traylor Zoo of Emporia: Kelli Proehl is responsible for organizing and presenting educational opportunities for the zoo, including classroom visits, zoo camp, “safari edventure” and kidzoocation.

Riverside Discovery Center Hires New Leadership & Zoo Keepers: During Monday night’s City Council meeting, Matt Salomon told the council that the RDC Board has hired Hawk Buckman as the zoo’s new Chief Executive Officer. Prior to coming to RDC, Buckman had worked on the Wyobraska Magazine and as a nature photographer. Additionally, the Board hired on two new Level 3 zookeepers- one from Denver and one from Florida. One of the new keepers specializes in primates. Salomon told the council that the new hires are both one step higher than what the zoo currently has on staff.