Tag: 2021
Dr. Ellen Bronson
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date July 6, 2021
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DR. ELLEN BRONSON
Senior Director of Animal Health, Conservation, and Research, Maryland Zoo
Ellen Bronson, DVM, DACZM, graduated from the Freie Universitaet Berlin with a degree in veterinary medicine. After graduation, she completed multiple training programs, including a one year internship in small animal medicine in Indiana, a two year internship in zoo medicine at the Maryland Zoo, and a three year residency in zoo medicine at Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. She started as a staff veterinarian at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore in 2006. She became a board-certified specialist in zoo and wildlife medicine with the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) in 2007. She is currently the Senior Director of Animal Health, Conservation, and Research at the Maryland Zoo, and oversees the veterinary and nutrition programs, as well as field conservation and research endeavors at the zoo. Her field experience and interests center especially around the human-domestic animal-wildlife interface, in species ranging from Maryland black bears, bog turtles, snowy owls, and Bolivian river dolphins. Her current position is her absolute dream job, but if she didn’t work at the zoo, she would be a full-time field researcher in some remote corner of the globe!
- Tags 2021
Elise Bernardoni
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date July 6, 2021
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ELISE BERNARDONI
Director of Engagement, Canopy Strategic Partners
lise Bernardoni is currently the Director of Engagement at Canopy Strategic
Partners. In this role she helps mission-driven organizations, including zoos,
aquariums, botanical gardens, conservation organizations, and other public green
spaces, to create a better future for the planet. Elise was the Assistant Director for
Education Programs at Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), the non-profit support
organization for Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC. Elise began her
career at FONZ in 2006 as an intern and has been with the education department
for 14 years. She and her team oversaw a large education portfolio including
school programs, camps, children’s classes, overnights, birthday parties, and a
teen volunteer program. She also managed several special programs and projects
including strategic leadership for education and learning, an internal conservation
grant that distributes $100,000 annually to the National Zoo’s keepers and
scientists, and the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment’s National Zoo Day.
Elise is an active advocate for zoos-based conservation organizations. She is an instructor for two professional development courses offered through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA): Conservation Education:
Effective Program Design and Managing for Success: Career Development. Elise is a member of the National Capital Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, and served as chapter president from 2013 – 2017.
She is currently the national education co-advisor for the Felid Taxonomic Advisory Group, which manages all populations of cat species in AZA accredited zoos’ care.
Elise holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Arts in Teaching; Museum Education from The George Washington University. She is passionate about helping young people see their role in conservation and at conservation organizations no matter their personal or professional background. Elise is a native of Connecticut, where she spent a lot of time camping, playing outdoors, and tending to her menagerie of pets. Elise enjoys traveling, kayaking, and spotting wildlife before her partner when out in nature.
Jaxson Mack
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date July 6, 2021
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JAXSON MACK
Urban Forester, Casey Trees
Jax is a charismatic and innovative conservation biologist who is passionate about increasing community involvement and environmental education. He has created national environmental initiatives, organized large volunteer teams, worked to rebuild forests, and spoken to diverse stakeholder communities. He is especially committed to increasing participation within Citizen Science projects and increasing forested habitat for migratory species.
Currently, Jax protects the Chesapeake Bay by increasing canopy cover. Within his position as Assistant Director, Jax has created national upcycle programs, Leave No Trace trainings , and begun the orginazation’s first environmental committee. While working for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, he guided landowners to foster better ecosystems on their own properties and worked with Title I schools around the country to implement scientific tools for research. During his graduate studies at the University of Rhode Island, Jax directed conservation efforts with the Nature Conservancy to protect genetic heritage of mammals on surrounding islands. He has developed a wide and unique set of skills, perfect for tackling large conservation issues.
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Ashley King
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date June 11, 2021
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ASHLEY KING
Ashley King is the Event Coordinator in the Office of Admissions at George Mason University. Ashley started with the Office of Admissions in October of 2019 and is excited to support her second in-person conference. One of Ashley’s passions is to create visually engaging content by using her graphic design skills, so be on the lookout during the conference because you might just see one of her designs! Ashley earned her B.A. in Theater from George Mason University. In her free time you can catch Ashley going to concerts, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Ashley Larson
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date June 11, 2021
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ASHLEY LARSON
Ashley Larson is from Parker, Colorado. She is a rising senior at Grand Canyon University.
She loves photography, specifically sports photography! She currently works for Grand
Canyon University’s feminist publication HerGCU. She writes, photographs, and plans events for this publication.
Melissa Moore
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date June 10, 2021
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MELISSA MOORE
Melissa Moore is the Assistant Director of Events for the Office of Admissions at George Mason University and the Director of Logistics for the Washington Scholars Program. Melissa attended WSP’s Washington Journalism and Media Conference as a high school student and worked as a staff member for the programs throughout her undergraduate tenure. She received her B.A. in Communication from GMU in 2018 and has since worked in events for the Washington Capitals (and has a ring to prove it!) and a tech startup before returning to her alma mater. In her free time, Melissa enjoys riding her bike around Washington D.C.’s National Mall, going to local sporting events, and traveling.
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Laura Scudder
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date June 7, 2021
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LAURA SCUDDER
Laura Scudder is a senior at George Mason University majoring in communication with a concentration in journalism and minoring in sustainability studies. She works for Mason’s student newspaper, Fourth Estate, and was the Co-Editor-in-Chief for the 2020-2021 academic year. This spring, she also worked as a reporting intern with Voice of America’s Student Union. Laura attended WJMC in 2017 and worked as a Junior Faculty Advisor in 2019.
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Dr. Alan Byrd
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date June 7, 2021
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DR. ALAN BYRD
Dean of Admissions, George Mason University
Alan Byrd began his tenure as Dean of Admissions at George Mason University in November 2020. With over 20 years of experience in enrollment management and community engagement, Dr. Byrd has a long, successful track record of leading, planning, and coordinating student recruitment and retention initiatives. He brings a team-oriented, data-driven recruitment approach to Mason that prioritizes exceptional service and commitment to student success.
Prior to Mason, Dr. Byrd was the chief enrollment officer at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He led UMSL to several new milestones for enrollment growth, diversity of the student body, the academic profile of incoming students, and graduation rates. Removing financial barriers for students was central to his work in St. Louis, where he developed innovative financial aid programs such as the “UMSL Grant” and “Finish Your Degree Scholarship” that reduced the average student loan debt at graduation by 12% and earned UMSL national recognition as a top 100 institution for social mobility according to U.S. News & World Report.
Dr. Byrd received his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at UMSL. He earned a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.
Sercan Gokturk
- Post author By Allison Dodson
- Post date January 5, 2021
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SERCAN GOKTURK
- Tags 2021