Mar
08

Announcing the Association of Minority Zoo Professionals

New association seeks to increase minority representation throughout the zoological field.

The leadership of the National Zoo and Smithsonian Conservation Society has announced that NZP/SCBI will be the first “Support Organization” to partner with the newly formed Association of Minority Zoo Professionals group.

The Association of Minority Zoo Professionals (AMZP) is a group of professionals currently working in exotic animal care and conservation disciplines at accredited zoos, aquariums and exotic wildlife facilities. AMZP is focused on increasing minority representation throughout the zoological industry.

Keeper Leigh Pitsko and interim curator of Great Cats Craig Saffoe examine one of 6-year-old Nababiep's cubs. The cubs were born on Sept. 22 to Nababiep and 5-year-old father, Luke. (Photo by Mehgan Murphy)
Keeper Leigh Pitsko and curator of Great Cats Craig Saffoe examine one of 6-year-old Nababiep’s cubs. The cubs were born on Sept. 22, 2010 to Nababiep and 5-year-old father, Luke. (Photo by Mehgan Murphy)

Craig Saffoe (Curator of Great Cats) has put together a strong Steering Committee, including Jalal Abdo, Jenn Donato, Carly Hornberger, Carolina Powell, Budhan Pukazhenthi, and Juan Rodriguez, to help advise and guide AMZP’s development.

Members represent many disciplines with the majority working directly in the fields of animal care and/or research. Right now, membership is limited to National Zoo employees; but, AMZP intends to recruit professionals working in accredited facilities across the country. Current membership includes people of Asian, Black, Latino, Middle Eastern and Native American heritage as well as White colleagues invested in helping further AMZP’s goals:

1) to build a sense of community amongst minorities currently working in the zoo field; and

2) to promote career opportunities within zoos as viable options for minorities, subsequently increasing minority representation throughout the industry.

AMZP’s short-term goals will focus on “networking and professional development for professionals currently in the field, and mentorship to those seeking to enter the field.

Please check out AMZP’s new website, www.amzp.org, which will link to the NZP/SCBI website, as well as the one-pager describing AMZP linked here.

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Posted: 8 March 2021
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.