Jodi Anderson is the Director of Education at the Toledo Zoo, where she oversees all educational programming, leads a team of dedicated staff, and builds partnerships that connect science learning with real-world conservation. Her career in education spans over 25 years, including 23 years with Bowling Green City Schools as a science teacher and later as secondary curriculum coordinator. Jodi holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and has been recognized as an Ohio Master Teacher. Nearly three decades after first serving the Toledo Zoo as a volunteer and research fellow, she now brings her expertise full circle to inspire the next generation of conservation-minded learners.

Jerry Aylmer is a UK-born conservationist whose early career was in engineering and business in London before transitioning to wildlife conservation nearly a decade ago. He gained field experience volunteering on projects in Malaysia and Mauritius and later worked with the Fauna & Flora International Business and Nature team in Cambridge. For the past three and a half years, he has served as Manager of the Limbe Wildlife Centre and Country Representative for Pandrillus in Cameroon. At Limbe, he leads efforts to provide sanctuary and care for wildlife rescued from the illegal trade, while strengthening partnerships, including with the Toledo Zoo, to expand capacity and conservation impact.

Dr. Paras Bikram Singh is a Nepali conservation ecologist with a PhD and postdoctoral training in Ecology. He spent six years as a conservation officer in the Annapurna Conservation Area, conducting field research on Himalayan musk deer, red pandas, and snow leopards. He is now Director of BIOCOS Nepal, a nonprofit dedicated to biodiversity conservation through scientific research and community engagement. His work focuses on carnivores and mountain ungulates, as well as pheasants, while also fostering youth and celebrity engagement in snow leopard conservation. He has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and continues to advance conservation science and outreach in the Himalayas.

Dr. Alexandra Burris is the School and Community Programs Coordinator at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium. She earned a BSc in Zoology from Miami University and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction (Science and Environmental Education) from Indiana University, where her research focused on zoo visitor learning. At Toledo, she leads Project PRAIRIE’s educational components, including curriculum development, teacher training, and outreach, while also overseeing field trips, virtual programs, and homeschool initiatives. Dr. Burris has managed numerous grants to expand access to zoo education, including the 2024 AZA Conservation Grant Fund Award

Justin Chiotti is a Fish Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, recently appointed as Coordinator of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act for the Midwest Regional Office. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University and a master’s in Biological Sciences from Michigan Technological University, where he studied lake sturgeon. Over his career, he has worked as a tribal fisheries biologist with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, conducted research with Cornell University, and led native fish programs for the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.

Becky Crow is the Wind and Solar Energy Program Administrator at the Ohio Division of Wildlife, where she is part of the Wildlife Diversity team focusing on terrestrial non-game species conservation. She has been instrumental in developing Ohio’s first captive breeding program for the state-endangered Allegheny woodrat, a collaborative initiative with the Toledo Zoo aimed at increasing genetic diversity and recovering this rare species. Beyond her program leadership, Becky serves as President of the Ohio Chapter of The Wildlife Society and contributes to multiple professional groups, including the Ohio Bat Working Group and the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. Her broad experience and leadership bring innovative solutions to species recovery and wildlife conservation across Ohio.

Dr. Matt Cross is the Director of Vertebrate Conservation at the Toledo Zoo, where he oversees vertebrate research and head-starting programs. He holds master’s degrees in Conservation Biology and Geographic Information Sciences from Central Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Bowling Green State University. His work focuses on the population and landscape ecology of reptiles and includes projects on turtle and snake ecology, amphibian and reptile population assessments, lake sturgeon reintroduction, and community science initiatives in long-term monitoring.

Oliver Crowther is a conservation aviculturist dedicated to preserving endangered bird species through captive breeding and education. Known for his outreach work through the social media platform “OC Aviary,” he combines public engagement with scientific practice. A graduate of the University of Nottingham with an MSci in Animal Science, specializing in Bioveterinary Science, he has contributed to conservation projects involving Twites, Turtle Doves, and Red-backed Shrikes across the UK and Europe.

Katie Herzog is a Herpetology Keeper at the Toledo Zoo, where she has worked in various roles since 2012. She began as a ZOOTeen volunteer and later gained experience caring for species such as feeder insects, Kihansi spray toads, lake sturgeon, and hellbenders before becoming a full-time keeper in 2019. Katie holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Bowling Green State University and has been involved in the Zoo’s hellbender program for nearly a decade, maintaining a strong passion for their conservation.

Suzanne Husband is the Associate Curator of Mammals at the Toledo Zoo, where she has worked for 39 years with a focus on primates. She has served on the orangutan steering committee and coauthored three chapters of the orangutan husbandry manual, while also consulting on infant care and staff training. Suzanne has experience in hand-rearing and reintroducing gorillas and orangutans and has participated in conservation, rescue, and release programs in Kalimantan, Borneo. She currently serves as the North American Pied Tamarin Program Coordinator, collaborating with Brazilian researchers and leading workshops to strengthen global efforts to conserve this rare species.

Mitch Magdich is Curator of Education Emeritus and Education Project Specialist at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, where he served for 34 years before retiring in 2024. Early in his career, he collaborated on recovery programs for oak savanna butterflies, including the Karner blue, work that earned the Zoo the 2003 AZA North America Conservation Award for Top Honors. More recently, he helped initiate Project PRAIRIE, which establishes native prairie habitats on school campuses across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. With over 50 schools involved, the program integrates prairie studies into curricula, engages students in community science, and culminates in student research presentations at the Zoo. Mitch’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to conservation, education, and inspiring environmental stewardship.

Ysabella (Bell) Montano-Ward is a Filipino conservation scientist and In Situ Projects Manager at the Talarak Foundation. She studied Life Sciences in the Philippines before completing the Durrell Endangered Species Recovery postgraduate diploma in Mauritius, followed by a master’s degree in Thailand focused on king cobras and elongated tortoises. Since 2019, she has worked alongside her husband and colleague, Matt Ward, to develop field conservation programs for the restoration of endemic Philippine species, including the Negros Bleeding Heart Dove, through integration of captive breeding and habitat-based conservation.

Megan Seymour is a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Columbus, Ohio Ecological Services Field Office, where she has served for 26 years. Her work centers on implementation of the Endangered Species Act, including listing, consultation, recovery planning, and delisting, with a focus on reptiles and bats. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management, cum laude, from The Ohio State University. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring parks, wildlife photography, and contributing to citizen science.

Koral Stoddard is an animal care professional with nearly 17 years at the Toledo Zoo. She spent over a decade as a zookeeper specializing in primate care and behavioral management before moving into leadership, where she has managed animal care operations for the past six years. Koral has represented the Zoo internationally at a Pied Tamarin conservation and education conference in Brazil and continues to mentor future zoo professionals while balancing her work with family life as a wife and mother of three.

Dr. Lochran Traill is a conservation scientist with extensive research experience in large herbivore ecology and conservation. He has conducted fieldwork in southern Africa and northern Australia, with current research interests focused on the application of technology in conservation and the ecology of African megaherbivores.

Dr. Ryan Walsh is the Director of Plant Conservation at the Toledo Zoo, where he manages Wild Toledo and the Horticulture Department. He earned his Ph.D. in Biology from Bowling Green State University, where he studied the ecology and evolution of the White Lady’s Slipper Orchid. During his 11 years at the Zoo, Wild Toledo has expanded from three on-site prairies to over 100 across the region and into Tennessee, in addition to maintaining a licensed native plant nursery. His work also includes collaborations on endangered lepidopteran conservation and policy advising on native plant landscaping.

Matt Ward is an English conservationist whose career has spanned work with endangered species and conservation programs across the globe. He has supported amphibian conservation in the UK and Madagascar, and has contributed to projects in South Africa, Java, and Thailand involving species ranging from elephants to king cobras. Currently based in the Philippines, Matt manages both in situ and ex situ conservation programs at the Talarak Foundation, focusing on regionally endemic and endangered species such as the Visayan warty pig, Visayan spotted deer, and Negros Bleeding Heart Dove.

Narelle Wilson is a biosecurity specialist with extensive experience in veterinary science, invasive species management, and conservation policy across Australia and the Pacific. She has led biosecurity programs for Australian Government Departments, supported agricultural and environmental initiatives in the Solomon Islands, and advised on regional strategies. She currently serves as Conservation Adviser to the Toledo Zoo’s Santa Cruz Ground Dove breeding program in the Solomon Islands, where she applies her expertise in policy, field operations, and cross-cultural collaboration to advance recovery efforts.

Joe Wood is a Conservation Biologist with a background in zookeeping and a master’s degree from the University of Cambridge. He has worked at the Toledo Zoo since 2017, where he began by leading the establishment of a captive insurance population of Santa Cruz Ground Doves. He now oversees the Zoo’s participation in a global portfolio of conservation initiatives and serves as Founder and Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Pigeon and Dove Specialist Group.

Torie Curr Smith is a wildlife rehabilitation specialist with over a decade of experience across Africa and Australia. Beginning her career as a youth volunteer at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, she later worked at primate rescue and rehabilitation centers in South Africa and Malawi. She also trained as a veterinary nurse in Australia before returning to Africa, where she served as Animal Manager at the Vervet Monkey Foundation and later as Head of Wildlife Rehabilitation at the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust. In 2024, she joined the Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon as Animal Care Manager.