Membership 
Meet the Team
At CREW, researchers work hard every day using science to learn and applying knowledge to save a future for wildlife.
“At CREW, we remain optimistic that science will withstand the test of our current societal shifts and will prevail to guide decisions on conservation, health, and environmental policies vital to the long-term existence of Earth’s amazing diversity of life.”
Dr. Roth earned both her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science at the University of California, Davis. She then was awarded a Board of Regents Fellowship at Louisiana State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in Animal Reproductive Physiology with a minor in Immunology. She conducted her post-doctoral training at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. before accepting the position of Director of the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in October 1996. Dr. Roth has conducted research with species ranging from toads to rhinos, but is most renowned for her scientific breakthroughs that led to the success in breeding Sumatran rhinos at both the Cincinnati Zoo and the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Indonesia.
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Dr. Roth has served on the board of the International Rhino Foundation since 2002 and has published over 175 scientific papers and abstracts. She was the 2004 recipient of a Chevron Texaco Conservation Award, “Honoring Our Environmental Heroes” for her Sumatran Rhino work. She is also the subject of an award-winning young people’s book, Emi and the Rhino Scientist, and in 2010 was named a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement in Cincinnati, OH.
“Small wild cat species, such as ocelots and Pallas’ cats, historically haven’t received the same level of conservation and science attention as the larger cats, but our research at CREW is helping to correct that knowledge deficit. CREW’s science is now having a meaningful impact on our capacity to conserve many of these species within zoos but also increasingly in the wild.”
Dr. Swanson’s educational background includes a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Texas, a D.V.M. from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. in Animal Science from Louisiana State University. Following graduate school, Dr. Swanson worked for five years at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park before beginning his employment at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1997. Over the past three decades, his research efforts have focused primarily on investigating the reproductive biology of domestic cats and endangered small-sized wild cat species to improve their breeding management and conservation, as well as evaluating non-surgical approaches to feral cat sterilization. His studies, conducted in the United States and 18 foreign countries, have involved research with over 30 felid species.
Dr. Swanson served for 10 years as Co-Chair of the Felid Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) for the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), helping to oversee population management programs for the 17 wild cat species maintained in ~230 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums. He currently serves as the Coordinator of the AZA’s Ocelot Species Survival Plan (SSP), reproductive advisor to the Felid TAG, and Ocelot, Fishing Cat, and Pallas’ Cat SSPs, and scientific advisor to the AZA’s Reproductive Management Center and the Michelson Found Animals Foundation.
“The challenge of conserving the world’s plant diversity is daunting, but one that we can face by combining science and collaboration to multiply knowledge and facilitate plant conservation on a global scale.”
Dr. Pence earned her B.S. in Biology (botany) at Mount Holyoke College and her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biology (plant developmental physiology). She then did 2 years of post-doctoral training in the Horticulture Department at Purdue University studying embryogenesis in cacao and another year in the Botany Department at the University of Florida studying in vitro nitrogen fixation. She then worked as a Senior Research Associate in Biology at the University of Cincinnati studying plant hormonal effects in vitro before accepting the position of Director of Plant Research at the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden in 1987.
Dr. Pence has developed in vitro propagation protocols for several dozen endangered plant species and studied cryopreservation in seeds, embryos, gametophytes, pollen, spores, and shoot tips of numerous species. She is also interested in developmental abnormalities in vitro related to plant adaptations and how to overcome them. Dr. Pence currently serves on the Board of the Lloyd Library and Museum and has published over 188 scientific papers, book chapters, and abstracts. She has been the recipient of the Fellow Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology, and conservation awards from the Center for Plant Conservation, The Garden Club of America, and the Association of Zoological Horticulture.
Dr. Erin Curry is a reproductive physiologist and conservation scientist whose research interests lie at the intersection of wildlife biology, reproductive science, and conservation innovation. As Director of the Polar Bear Signature Project® at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), she leads collaborative, multidisciplinary research aimed at understanding and improving reproductive success and genetic diversity in species threatened with extinction.
Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Curry earned her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Delaware, with a focus on Wildlife Conservation and a minor in Psychology. She went on to earn both her M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal & Veterinary Sciences from Clemson University, where her research focused on sex determination in cattle and the characterization of microRNAs in pig gametes and embryos at different developmental stages.
Dr. Curry joined CREW as a Post-Doctoral Scientist in 2011 and was hired as a staff scientist in 2014. She has collaborated with over 35 zoological institutions and numerous national and international partners. Leveraging the accessibility of zoo-managed populations, her team aims to position zoos as critical research resources for preserving and understanding wildlife and how they adapt to environmental pressures. Through studying animals in human care, valuable insights can be gained about behavior and physiology that inform management and conservation strategies for their wild counterparts.
Her research is dedicated to developing and applying innovative tools to monitor and better understand the physiology of wildlife, both in zoos and in the wild. Her team explores ways to measure and track key physiological processes such as reproduction, health, stress, and metabolism. She strives to balance the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) with efforts to improve outcomes of natural breeding and identify causes of reproductive failure.
Beyond her research, Dr. Curry is passionate about training and mentoring the next generation of wildlife scientists. She has supervised numerous postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and interns, fostering professional development and scientific curiosity across disciplines. She also holds positions in several professional committees, including as Co-chair of the Polar Bear Research Council, Reproduction Advisor for the Bear Taxon Advisory Group, Editorial Board Member for Zoo Biology, Research Advisor to the Red Panda Species Survival Plan, and member of the Polar Bear Population Alliance Management Group.
“As a veterinarian, I am part of a profession whose primary responsibility is the health and well-being of animals. That responsibility extends past pets and livestock to wildlife species. Research in reproductive sciences is vital to conservation biology because, for many endangered species, we lack a basic understanding of their reproductive physiology. At CREW, we use a systematic research approach to better understand each felid’s unique reproductive biology and develop assisted reproductive technologies that can help sustain and manage these iconic species.”
Dr. Lindsey Vansandt completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri–Columbia, double majoring in Animal Sciences and Biology. She also spent a semester in Costa Rica studying sustainable agriculture before entering veterinary school. After earning her DVM from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, Lindsey completed a research internship at the Saint Louis Zoo while also gaining clinical experience in emergency veterinary medicine.
Lindsey subsequently earned her PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Maryland. Conducted in collaboration with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, her doctoral research examined spermatogonial stem cells and their potential use as an alternative means of preserving genetic diversity in rare and endangered felids.
Lindsey joined CREW as a postdoctoral scientist in 2014 and became a staff theriogenologist in 2018. She was named Director of the Imperiled Cat Signature Project in 2023. Her research focuses on applying reproductive science and assisted reproductive technologies to the conservation and propagation of wild felids, as well as improving the health and welfare of free-roaming and sheltered domestic cats. During her tenure at CREW, she produced the first sand cat kittens and the first jaguar cub born through artificial insemination.
Lindsey serves as Reproductive Advisor for the Amur leopard, snow leopard, sand cat, and jaguar Species Survival Plans, as well as for the Fishing Cat Consortium. She is a member of the Felid Taxon Advisory Group Steering Committee, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Reproductive Management Center Advisory Board, and the AZA Reproduction and Endocrinology Scientific Advisory Group Steering Committee. She also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Michelson Prize and Grants in Reproductive Biology Program.
Dr. Rispoli is a post-doctoral scientist in CREW’s Animal Division. She obtained an appreciation for molecular biology and research while studying at University of California Davis for her B.S. in Animal Science. Afterwards she pursued her doctorate in Reproductive Physiology at the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory located at Colorado State University. During her time in Colorado, Dr. Rispoli investigated different aspects of neuroendocrinology in sheep. Subsequently, Dr. Rispoli joined the Department of Animal Science at University of Tennessee, first as a post-doctoral fellow and then as a research assistant professor. She focused on researching molecular mechanisms fundamental to fertility, particularly related to cattle gamete biology.
She joined the Cincinnati Zoo in November 2019 to specifically work with CREW’s Rhino Signature Conservation Project. Dr. Rispoli brings a unique skillset to rhino research and is interested in applying molecular approaches to advance our knowledge of reproduction and physiology in rhinos.
Megan earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Cincinnati in 2011. In 2013, she joined the graduate program at the University of Cincinnati (UC), working with Dr. Theresa Culley at UC and Dr. Valerie Pence at CREW on an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded grant investigating the long-term survival of plant-species stored in CREW’s CryoBioBank.
Megan’s doctoral research focused on the population genetics of rare and endangered species, and the genetic effects of long-term liquid nitrogen storage. She defended her Ph.D. in 2018 and joined the Plant Research Division at CREW as a postdoc that same year. Her research currently focuses on developing cryopreservation protocols for rare and endangered Hawaiian plant species in cooperation with the Lyon Arboretum, supported by IMLS. She continues to work on population genetics in rare species as well.
Julie Barnes is currently a post-doctoral scientist in CREW’s Animal Division. Julie is originally from Tennessee, where she earned her B.S. degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2013. She then worked for a year as a conservation biodiversity intern at the Memphis Zoo, working mainly with near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) to investigate bamboo nutrition. At the Memphis Zoo, she was exposed to the world of reproduction in a variety of species that piqued her interest and motivated her to attend University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville. During vet school, Julie spent two summers participating in veterinary research training programs at UC Davis and Cornell University. She completed her DVM in 2018 and then entered private practice as an associate veterinarian with a specialized interest in reproduction in Memphis. She practiced preventative and diagnostic medicine, in addition to working closely with canine breeders to determine breeding windows and address infertility problems. She also started a transcervical insemination program for canines at the clinic.
Dr. Barnes joined CREW in August of 2019 to begin her research on improving the health and welfare of free-roaming and sheltered domestic cats along with assisting in the Imperiled Cat Signature Conservation Project. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree through the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Biological Sciences.
Dr. Bethany Garland joined CREW’s Imperiled Cat Signature Project as a PhD student in August 2025. She earned a BS in Animal Science with a minor in Wildlife and Fisheries from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, before entering the university’s dual DVM/PhD program. After completing her DVM, Bethany began pursuing her PhD in collaboration with Dr. Lindsey Vansandt, Director of CREW’s Imperiled Cat Signature Project.
Bethany’s doctoral research focuses on improving semen processing and cryopreservation techniques to support the genetic management and long-term conservation of endangered felids. Her work includes evaluating computer-assisted semen analysis technology, refining critical steps in the semen cryopreservation process, and developing methods to minimize the damaging effects of urine contamination during semen collection.
Shauni Windle is a current postdoctoral scientist at CREW. Raised in Texas, Shauni moved to Oklahoma to attend Oklahoma State University where she obtained her B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science in 2015 and 2017, respectively. During an internship in South Africa, Shauni discovered an interest in Conservation Science. Following her developing interest, Shauni continued her education at Oklahoma State University by beginning her Ph.D. under Drs. Scott McMurry and Jason Belden. Her dissertation research primarily focused on the effects of endocrine disrupting compounds on Blanchard’s Cricket Frog development. After defending her Ph.D. in December 2022, Shauni immediately began a postdoctoral research project focused on pesticide treated seed availability to wildlife in Missouri farmland.
Shauni joined CREW in October 2023 to work under CREW’s Rhino Signature Project. Her work with CREW primarily focuses on Iron Overload Disorder in captive rhino species including potential contributing factors and resulting physiology. In addition to Iron Overload research, Shauni is interested in ecological aspects of wildlife reproduction and physiology.
Dr. Max Winkeljohn is currently a post-doctoral scientist for CREW’s Exceptional Plant Signature Project. Born and raised here in Cincinnati, he first joined CREW as a plant lab intern back in 2017 while working on his undergraduate degree. This internship introduced him to the exciting world of exceptional plants and the techniques used to conserve them, which he grew to love. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati (UC) with his B.S. in Environmental Studies in 2018, he decided to continue his research at CREW, this time as a graduate student in UC’s Department of Biological Sciences. His doctoral research focused on investigating and improving various steps of the ex situ conservation process such as in vitro tissue culture and cryopreservation for various threatened species of oak. Specifically, his work investigated the role of nutrient ions on lateral shoot production and the effect of cryoprotectant exposure duration on cryopreservation success. In addition to his research, Max has also become a well-respected instructor at UC, having taught lecture courses in Medical Botany and Conservation Biology, among other things. He successfully completed his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in the fall of 2025 and is incredibly excited to be able to continue his work at CREW as a post-doctoral scientist! His current research focuses on developing effective protocols for the propagation and cryopreservation of threatened species of oaks and pawpaws.
“It has always been my dream to work with cats in a scientific and veterinary capacity. As I was figuring out what I wanted my career to look like, I concluded that reproduction in endangered felids was my main goal. Since I have been at CREW, I have seen those dreams and my hard work realized”
Amy Miller is a Research Associate in CREW’s Animal Division who primarily works on the Imperiled Cat Signature Conservation Project. Amy joined CREW in February 2017. Much of Amy’s time is spent analyzing cat samples to diagnose pregnancy, characterize reproductive activity and/or monitor responses to various studies. Amy also assists with all aspects of assisted reproduction procedures both in domestic cats at CREW and non-domestic cats at collaborating zoos across the nation. She serves as the primary support staff for senior scientists, post-docs and visiting scientists studying cat reproduction at CREW.
Amy received her B.S. in biology from Loyola University Chicago in 2012. She worked as a vet tech in a spay and neuter clinic in Chicago (PAWS Chicago) and one in New Orleans (Southern Animal Foundation). She also worked as a head zookeeper at a small zoo in Wisconsin after completing her B.S. where she gained experience with medical and husbandry care of many species. In 2014, Amy returned to college and received a M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 2017 studying the reproductive endocrinology of the 13-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus).
“I really love helping to facilitate all the great science and research that goes on at CREW as well as pursuing my own projects. I have the strong belief that what we are doing will help change the course of imperiled wildlife through the knowledge gained by our research.”
Elizabeth Donelan is a Research Associate in CREW’s Animal Division. In this position, she manages the day-to-day laboratory operations and supports ongoing research in CREW’s three signature projects. Additionally, Elizabeth conducts independent research projects on animals at the Cincinnati Zoo that can benefit from CREW’s expertise, and she also handles some of the service work CREW is asked to perform (reproductive monitoring and pregnancy diagnosis) by our collaborating zoo partners.
Elizabeth is a Cincinnati native who started her wildlife education at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden early in life. This experience developed into a lifelong passion for wildlife and conservation. She received her B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University in 2006, and her M.S. in Environmental Science/Wildlife Biology from the University of Rhode Island in 2009. Her graduate research involved a biodiversity assessment of small mammals on a coffee farm. After graduate school, Elizabeth spent several years working in labs focused on human diseases associated with obesity that led to several co-authored scientific papers. Elizabeth joined CREW in December 2015, and has already completed studies of kea and aye-aye while performing her daily responsibilities that keep the labs running smoothly and the CREW volunteers busy.
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Brammer-Robbins joined CREW as a Post-Doctoral Scientist in June 2026, bringing expertise in endangered species conservation, reproductive biology, and wildlife ecotoxicology to the Polar Bear Signature Project. Working with Dr. Erin Curry, Liz is helping advance CREW’s IMLS-funded project, Innovative Assistance for Overcoming Sustainability Challenges with Bear Populations in Zoos, which aims to develop practical tools to support bear health and conservation.
Liz originally planned to become an equine veterinarian but discovered a passion for research and conservation while studying human-wildlife conflict in Tanzania, East Africa. She went on to conduct conservation research on the St. Francis satyr butterfly in North Carolina and hawksbill and green sea turtles in the Caribbean. In 2019, Liz received a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and began graduate studies at the University of Florida, focusing on Florida manatee conservation. She earned her MS in 2021, investigating hormones and lipids as potential tools for detecting pregnancy and understanding stress in manatees. In 2025, Liz completed a PhD in veterinary sciences and ecotoxicology, studying the health effects of neurotoxic brevetoxins produced by Florida red tide on pinfish and Florida manatees.
At CREW, Liz is applying her skills to address an important challenge in bear conservation: pregnancy detection. Her work uses proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles to identify differences in protein profiles between pregnant and pseudopregnant animals. The identification of pregnancy related proteins, is expected to result in noninvasive pregnancy detection, benefiting both managed and wild polar bear populations.
Beyond research, Liz looks forward to supporting CREW’s interns and trainees as they develop their own interests in conservation science.
Outside of the lab, Liz enjoys playing beach volleyball and hiking with her Australian shepherd.
Dr. Rebecca Evey joined the CREW Rhino Team on July 27th, 2026, as a new Postdoctoral Scientist under the AIRS (American Institute of Rhinoceros Science) umbrella. Becca recently earned her Ph.D. in Biocomplexity and Evolutionary Biology from George Mason University after previously completing her B.S. in Biology at Indiana Wesleyan University. Becca’s Ph.D. research focused on quantifying hormones in whale baleen and other types of keratin from other species. In fact, one of her Ph.D. projects involved a visit to CREW to sample rhino horns for hormone analysis, but it was not Becca’s first experience at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. In the summer of 2018, she was an Animal Excellence Research Intern here and simultaneously volunteered at CREW helping with rhino fecal sample processing and endocrine assays. Becca’s substantial experience extracting and quantifying biomarkers found in a variety of biological matrices makes her a perfect fit for the work Terri and Louisa have planned in AIRS 1.5. In her free time, Becca most enjoys reading, gardening, thrifting, crafting, and baking.
“I am incredibly honored to work with CREW’s domestic cats. Through our Cat Colony, we advance both imperiled cat conservation and domestic cat welfare and behavior. Working at CREW has allowed me to combine my passions for wildlife conservation and animal sheltering.”
Christina Bunner is a Research Associate for CREW’s Imperiled Cat Signature Project and manages CREW’s Domestic Cat Colony. Her research focuses on domestic cat welfare and enrichment, with an emphasis on improving the lives of cats in shelters. She oversees the daily care and management of CREW’s domestic cats, manages the Cat Colony’s dedicated team of keepers and volunteers, and designs and implements research studies evaluating feline behavior and welfare. Christina also supports the Imperiled Cat Signature Project’s reproductive research by assisting in CREW’s Endocrine Laboratory and participating in reproductive procedures with nondomestic cats at collaborating institutions.
Christina received her M.S. in Conservation Biology from the University of Central Florida in 2017. Before joining CREW, she worked as a shelter animal behaviorist and private behavior consultant for over 6 years, helping to improve the welfare and adoptability of shelter cats and dogs through behavior modification, enrichment, and staff and volunteer training. Her current role combines her interests in conservation, animal welfare, and feline behavior to benefit both endangered felids and domestic cats.
In October 2025, Dr. Brenda Jacklitsch joined CREW as a Community Cat Research Scientist, a position funded by the Joanie Bernard Foundation. Brenda brings over 15 years of applied research experience from the CDC, where she led studies on zoonotic diseases, climate-related health risks, and occupational safety. She holds a PhD in Health Education from the University of Cincinnati and an MS in Epidemiology from Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Brenda’s early experience at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and her long-standing interest in community cat research have come full circle. At CREW, she will lead a systematic review of trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs and support projects in non-surgical fertility control and feline welfare. We’re excited to welcome Brenda to the Zoo and look forward to the expertise and passion she brings to advancing community cat science!
“Working with CREW’s domestic cat colony has allowed me to turn a lifelong passion for animal care into a career. Every day, I have the opportunity to improve the welfare of our cats while contributing to research that benefits both domestic and endangered felids. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a team dedicated to conservation, animal welfare, and advancing feline science.”
Reagan Steele is the Head Keeper of CREW’s Domestic Cat Colony, where she manages the daily operations of the colony while supporting research focused on feline behavior, welfare, reproduction, and conservation. As head keeper, she is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of animal care while helping facilitate research that benefits both domestic and nondomestic cats.
Reagan began her journey with CREW as a volunteer in 2019 and earned a part-time position later that same year. After several years of dedication and hands on experience, she achieved her longtime goal of becoming a full-time zookeeper in March 2025. Before transitioning to zoological animal care, Reagan spent more than 15 years in human healthcare as a registered Radiologic and MRI Technologist and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Radiologic Science. Although her professional background began in human medicine, her passion for animal welfare ultimately inspired a career change. Today, she combines her medical knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to animal care to support the health, welfare, and research of CREW’s domestic cat colony.
“I am so thankful to be working on CREW’s Imperiled Cat Signature Project team, where I can constantly learn about and practice proper animal welfare, behavior, and conservation while helping advance research that benefits both endangered and domestic cats.”
As a Senior Cat Colony Keeper, Haylie oversees the daily care and behavioral management of the cats in CREW’s Domestic Cat Colony while supporting the Imperiled Cat Signature Project. She works closely with the veterinary team and fellow keepers to ensure each animal receives individualized care that promotes both physical and behavioral well-being. A particular area of interest for Haylie is operant conditioning and positive reinforcement training. She enjoys teaching voluntary medical and husbandry behaviors that allow cats to actively participate in their own healthcare, including blood draws, ultrasounds, sperm collections, and other procedures that reduce stress and improve animal welfare.
Haylie received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Cincinnati. She is committed to continuing her professional growth while contributing to CREW’s mission through excellence in husbandry, behavioral management, conservation, and education.
Scottie started her time with the CREW Cat Colony as a volunteer in May of 2004. After the retirement of Dr. Swanson in 2026, Scottie has been with the Imperiled Cat Signature Project longer than any other team member! She is proud to be a part of “Team Cat” and all the wonderful work that has been done at CREW.
Scottie’s passion lies with CREW’s volunteer program. She has happily served on CREW’s Volunteer Executive Committee as the Team Leader for the Cat Colony for many years and has served multiple terms as the Committee Chair. She is grateful to have won both the Wickemeyer and Stidham awards for her volunteer service. But most importantly, she is famous for her Taco Bar that she prepares annually for the Spring Volunteer Potluck.
Scottie has a BA in accounting from Xavier University. While she worked in accounting for many years, her true passion has always been animals and the Zoo. She has been a scuba diver for 40 years and a dive instructor for more than 30 of those. She has used that skill at the zoo and used to train and educate the zoo’s Manatee Divers about manatees, reflecting her love of animals both underwater and on land. She also holds the unofficial record for adopting the most CREW Colony cats, with eight!
“My passion for animals, commitment to the environment, and love for teaching drew me to the Cincinnati Zoo. After growing up on a farm and raising and training horses, I knew that this was where I wanted to finish my career. I am so fortunate to be working at CREW to help advance both imperiled cat conservation and domestic cat welfare.”
Kim Vonder Meulen is a part-time keeper for CREW’s domestic cat colony where she helps with the daily care of the cats, participates in the operant conditioning program, and helps to implement research studies that evaluate feline behavior and welfare. Kim has been a staff member and volunteer at the Cincinnati Zoo since 2015. Her roles have included being a Keeper at CREW, a Zoo Observer for Neonates, an Educator, and a Keeper Assistant in the elephant house. She has helped with many zoo events and has assisted in the effort to conserve our bird population through the Bird Strike program.
Kim received her B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.S. in Reading Education, and has 26+ hours in Early Education at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Before joining CREW, she worked as an educator at College Corner Union School in Indiana/Ohio. Yes, the state line runs through the center of the gymnasium-a unique situation. She taught 3rd, 4th, and 1st grades consecutively for 31+ years, reaching over 700 kids. After retiring, Kim was the Executive Director for the Chamber of Commerce in Franklin County, Indiana for 2 years. Her roles included maintaining and updating membership, planning and attending community events, supporting new businesses, and maintaining financial records. Kim’s love for education has made her an excellent mentor to the Zoo Academy students and ZooTeens that assist in the Cat Colony.
“I love that my role here at CREW combines two of my biggest passions: animal care and wildlife conservation. I’m very lucky to be part of this team, knowing that the work I do within the Cat Colony not only benefits the cats I have the honor of taking care of, but also has a broader reach and impact on the world.”
Shelby Simon is a Cat Colony Keeper within CREW’s Domestic Cat Colony. She provides daily care, enrichment, and training for the cats within the colony. She enjoys socializing the cats in the program and providing one-on-one training with the cats to help them perform and feel comfortable with various tasks associated with research studies. Working alongside fellow keepers, volunteers, Zoo Teens, and Zoo Academy students, Shelby enjoys collaborating with others and sharing her love of working with animals.
Shelby received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, double majoring in Biological Sciences and Nursing. In addition to her role at CREW, she currently works as a pediatric nurse. Before joining CREW, she completed two internships at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, one of which she worked as a safari guide at Kilimanjaro Safaris, sharing animal facts and conservation calls to action. She also worked as a weekend keeper for five years at a vocational school for veterinary assisting, gaining valuable experience providing care for multiple species. She completed a summer internship with a local animal shelter where she acquired her foundation for operant conditioning, positive reinforcement, and training methods that she still utilizes and further develops within her role at CREW.
“I’m so grateful to be part of the wonderful team at CREW, where I have the unique opportunity to support both animal excellence and conservation science.”
Sadie Phillips joined the Imperiled Cat Signature Project as a Cat Colony Keeper in 2023. Her work focuses on ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare for the cats that call CREW home through daily husbandry, enrichment, and health tracking. Sadie also assists with data collection for studies conducted in the colony and helped achieve the program’s first voluntary blood draws through operant conditioning. One of the most rewarding aspects of her work has been finding loving homes for the adoptable cats, including adopting one herself.
Sadie graduated from the College of Wooster in 2021 and previously worked as a wildlife interpreter at the Newport Aquarium before joining the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. She has experience assisting throughout the zoo as both an Animal Care Technician and Diver and has worked with a wide variety of taxa ranging from beetles to elephants. Sadie is passionate about CREW’s mission of saving species with science and the role excellent animal care plays in advancing conservation.
“Plants are the foundation of life and are often overlooked in terms of conservation. The CREW Plant Lab strives to expand what plant conservation can look like and I am grateful for the opportunity to develop my skills within this field and to work with people who share my passion for plants. It gives me hope for a brighter (and greener) future.”
Mairead started college at Miami University, where she discovered her plant passion by working in their Conservatory. She had never worked with plants previously, but before transferring to the University of Cincinnati, she had earned the title of Student Master Undergrad, caring for a diverse collection of species.
Mairead began part-time as the Greenhouse Manager for the CREW Plant Lab in 2019. She earned her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Horticulture from UC in 2022. After finishing her degree, she started full-time as the Plant Lab Manager and Conservation Horticulturalist. Her work includes the best of both worlds; working with plants in a sterile laboratory setting and getting to play in the dirt. She specializes in transitioning plants grown in vitro to being able to thrive when outplanted into their native habitats. With her work in the lab and greenhouse, she facilitates the process of culture initiation, maintaining the collection, acclimatization, and their eventual outplanting.
Preparing Scientists to Conserve the Future
The potential positive impact that research could have on wildlife conservation is enormous, but the actual impact it will have is limited, both by resource availability and the number of scientists involved in the effort. To help expand the global foundation of scientists conducting conservation-related research, CREW has established a Post-doctoral Training Program that provides a unique opportunity to new, enthusiastic scientists seeking careers in conservation-related fields. Since its inception in 1997, CREW has had more than 20 Postdocs complete their training and move on to rewarding careers.
What is the Post-Doc Program?
The program typically lasts two years and emphasizes many aspects central to CREW’s mission including education, research, and international training. Program objectives are multi-faceted. It provides an opportunity for academically oriented scientists to gain experience in coordinating conservation-based research projects in a zoo setting.
This requires learning how to design scientific studies that can be conducted on intractable animals about which little is known.
Postdoctoral Fellows must work closely with zoo keeper staff, collaborate with other zoological institutions, conduct research at distant zoos or in the field using a ‘mobile lab’ approach, and relate the importance of their work to the general public as well as the scientific community. The program has broadened the scope of research at CREW by bringing in scientists with varied expertise, interests, and fresh, creative ideas. Furthermore, it has increased the scientific productivity of CREW.
Proof of the Program’s Effectiveness
CREW’s Post-doctoral Training program has attracted excellent candidates both nationally and internationally. Trainees have gone on to secure permanent positions in various capacities that allow them to continue pursuing their interests in both wildlife and plant conservation research.
Jobs
To view open positions at CREW, please visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Job Opportunities page.
AmeriCorps
To view open AmeriCorps positions at CREW, please visit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden AmeriCorps page.