Our digital series, Pride In Our People, features the incredible staff at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium through written first-person narratives and/or podcast interviews.

Today, we are featuring Brea, a Senior Education Specialist!
This is her story…

I have always loved animals and have had a passion for teaching, but little did I know that I would be able to combine two things I love and make it my career. I graduated from Clarion University with a degree in Elementary Education but was unsure if I wanted to teach in a traditional school setting. I moved to Pittsburgh in the fall of 2006 and learned about the education department at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. I joined the Education team soon after and have not looked back.

As a Senior Education Specialist, my job is to create and teach programs about animals for all ages! Through our programs and with the help of our animal ambassadors, our goal is to not only help people learn about all the incredible animals we share our planet with but also to challenge them to think about their actions and take steps towards making a difference at home, in their communities, and around the world. No action is too small when it comes to conservation.

Animals have this amazing ability to bring people together. Watching faces light up, no matter what age, when we share about our animal ambassadors is one of the most rewarding feelings. Kids and adults love to share a time when they got to see a cool animal, an awesome fact they know, or animal stories that are meaningful to them. I am continually inspired by these interactions, and I hope that I inspire them too.

Thank you for all you do, Brea!