KARA INGRAHAM
Animal Keeper, Small Mammal House
Kara Ingraham graduated with a BS in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from University of Maryland in 2013. She has been an animal keeper at the zoo’s Small Mammal House since 2014, where she cares for a variety of primates, rodents, and small carnivores including endangered Black Footed Ferrets. In summer 2017, she traveled to Wyoming to assist with nighttime population surveys of re-introduced wild ferret populations.
KENTON KERNS
Assistant Curator, Small Mammal House
Kenton Kerns started as a keeper at the National Zoo’s Small Mammal House in 2007 after receiving his undergraduate degree in Biology from American University and a master’s degree from George Mason University. He is a board member for Save the Golden Lion Tamarin, the US non-profit that supports the Brazilian organization that tracks and monitors wild monkeys while protecting their habitat. As Assistant Curator, he helps coordinate the day-to-day functions of unit, including Small Mammal House education opportunities, research projects, and animal health requirements.
NATALIA A. PRADO-OVIEDO, PH.D.
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
I was born in Medellin, Colombia and immigrated to the United States when I was 3 years old. I received my bachelor’s degree from New York University in 2004, my master’s degree from American University in 2010, and my Ph.D. from George Mason University in 2015. My doctoral dissertation, “Hyperprolactinemia and Ovarian Acyclicity in Captive African Elephants”, aimed to understand a health and reproductive disorder (chronically elevated prolactin concentrations) affecting a large proportion of female African elephants in North American Zoos. For my post-doc research, I am establishing personalized heath care approaches for elephants using genetic markers. These data are important because zoo elephants exhibit numerous conditions that could be modulated by genetic factors, such as infertility, reproductive tract pathologies (leiomyomas and cysts), foot and joint problems, arthritis and susceptibility to a number of clinical diseases, such as elephant endothelial herpes virus (EEHV) and tuberculosis.
STACEY TABELLARIO
Animal Keeper, Asia Trail-Giant Pandas
Stacey Tabellario began her career as a wildlife filmmaker working for the Discovery Channel, the Jane Goodall Institute, and the Smithsonian Institution. She had the opportunity to track and observe many animals in their natural habitats as well as meet the people whose daily lives are affected by our choices in conservation. Eventually she realized that she felt most fulfilled on the days she worked closest with the animals, so she packed up the camera and used what she had learned from years of observing animals and working with world renowned scientists to become an animal keeper. She is currently an animal keeper at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington DC. Stacey’s particular interests include enrichment and training as well as adding choice and control back into the lives of animals in human care. Stacey has attended and presented at a number of training seminars, conferences and workshops around the country and enjoys sharing her broad range of knowledge, ideas and passions with colleagues and zoo visitors of all ages.
ZURI GAGNON
2012 WYSE Alumna, George Mason University Alumna
Zuri Gagnon attended WYSE in 2012. She has since studied at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC) and graduated from George Mason University (GMU) with a BS in Biology. Her research interests include conservation medicine and wildlife endocrinology. As a student, Zuri was a part of many student organizations involved in environmental sustainability, such as the Green Patriots and the Patriot Green Fund. She also interned at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute as an Elephant Health and Conservation Research intern, where she categorized clinical problems encountered in zoo elephants from historical health records and learned non-invasive hormone monitoring techniques. Then, she completed an undergraduate research project where she investigated the behavioral patterns of pregnant red pandas to determine if parturition can be predicted via observations. Now, Zuri is starting a new chapter of her life at GMU as she pursues her Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy.
SYDNEY KIRWAN
Sydney is the K12 Coordinator in the Office of Admissions at George Mason University. In her role, she offers group tours of the university and college information sessions to elementary and middle school students to promote college-going opportunities. She also works closely with other K-12 Partnerships and the Washington Scholars Program. Being a part of the WSP staff is always a highlight of her year and she has been involved with the programs since joining the Advance Team in 2018. Sydney earned a B.S.Ed. in Youth and Social Innovation with a double major in Spanish from the University of Virginia and is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling at George Mason University.
SAMANTHA OESTER
Faculty Advisor
Samantha Oester is a conservation biologist, coastal ecologist, and aquatic microbiologist. She is a PhD research fellow at George Mason University in Environmental Science and Policy, currently studying global change vulnerability in the Caribbean. She also examines diversity, equity, equality, and inclusion in STEM fields. Originally from rural WV, she’s a cyborg in Chicago who makes her family cosplay for their holiday cards. You can check her out on Google Street View Antarctica.
JAZMIN GOLDEN
Junior Faculty Advisor
Jazmin Golden was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and is a senior at George Mason University majoring in Environmental Science, B.S. with a minor in Public Policy and Management. She plans to use her education and research to pursue a career in Environmental Policy. Jazmin is a member of the Mason Ambassadors, a student in the Honors College, and an athlete on George Mason’s NCAA D1 Track and Field team as a 400-meter hurdler. She attended WYSE in 2014, and it enhanced her desire to learn more about the surrounding environment ever since. Jazmin believes that with the proper education and public awareness, we can have a positive impact on our environment and make it sustainable for years to come.
LAURA SWESSEL
Faculty Advisor
Laura Swessel grew up in Cumberland, Maryland. She attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. Upon graduation, she worked for 7 years at Lockheed Martin as a Mechanical Test Engineer, building, testing and launching commercial satellites. During that time, she earned an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 1999, Laura started a Lean Sigma consulting business with clients in the appliances, automotive, advertising and healthcare industries. During that time, Laura also started teaching Physics at the local Purdue University campus. In 2012, she was asked to take on a long-term sub position at Providence High School to cover an Honors Physics class. She found a love teaching high school and obtained her teaching license through Indiana’s Transition to Teaching program. She currently loves Aviation, Engineering, Physics and Environmental Science at Mercy Academy in Louisville, KY, and serves as the moderator for the Mercy Environmental Ambassadors. Laura has been a volunteer with the Indiana Department of Natural resources since 2008, where she serves as a docent at Falls of the Ohio and as a faculty member for the annual Family Paleontology Camp. She also serves on the county Native Habitat Restoration Team.
