Executive Director

Theresa grew up in rural Nevada where she developed an appreciation and love for wildlife. Even though she was very shy, she became a volunteer docent at the Animal Ark at age 15. She went on to earn a degree in Captive Wildlife Care and Education from Unity College, a small college is Maine. After graduation she returned to the Ark in 2014 as an animal keeper. Her hobbies include hiking and camping.

Collection Curator

Jhenna-Vie grew up in California and came to Nevada to work for Animal Ark in February 2022. She always had a passion for animals, which had propelled her to get jobs throughout her life working with whales, tigers, wolves, birds of prey, domestic animals, marine animals, and other wildlife.

Annie is the Guest Services Manager at Animal Ark, where she helps ensure visitors have a memorable experience while supporting the sanctuary’s mission. A Nevada native, Annie grew up visiting Animal Ark and was especially captivated by the raptors. She earned her bachelor’s in English Literature and master’s in Education from UNR before joining the team in 2023. Annie loves seeing children’s excitement when meeting the animals, with a special fondness for Katniss, the North American kestrel. Outside of work, she enjoys crafting and relaxing at home, and she is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to provide a safe home for animals in need while educating the public about wildlife conservation.

Tim is the Maintenance Manager at Animal Ark, where he ensures the sanctuary and its habitats are safe and well-maintained for the animals. A retired forest service professional, Tim volunteered at Animal Ark for a year before joining the team full-time, and he has been with the sanctuary for nine years. While he doesn’t have favorite animals—believing they choose whether to build a relationship with him—he enjoys being close to species visitors would rarely have a chance to see. Outside of work, Tim enjoys gold detecting and spending time outdoors. He is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to give the animals the best life possible.

Maya is the Education Coordinator at Animal Ark, where she works with ambassador animals and teaches the public about wildlife and conservation. She studied Fish and Wildlife Ecology at Montana State University and volunteered with multiple wildlife and outdoor education organizations throughout high school and college. Maya began her career in outdoor education in California before moving to Nevada to join Animal Ark. She enjoys being creative in her role and sharing her passion for animals with visitors. Outside of work, Maya is an avid backpacker and hiker.

Shea is an Animal Care Supervisor at Animal Ark, where she oversees the care and training of a variety of species. A Reno native, she earned her B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Nevada, Reno, while volunteering on reptile and invertebrate research projects. Shea has a particular passion for birds and invertebrates, with a soft spot for I.O., and loves building trust and seeing progress with the animals she trains. She enjoys educating visitors about wildlife, especially seeing the excitement on children’s faces during kestrel talks or when exploring reptiles and invertebrates. Outside of work, Shea loves birding, identifying plants and animals, and exploring the natural world around her.

Jasmine is an Animal Care Supervisor at Animal Ark, where she focuses on building trusting relationships with the sanctuary’s animals and studying their behaviors and personalities. Though she initially pursued a degree in music, Jasmine rediscovered her passion for animals as an adult and gained experience working with exotic animals at Amazon Reptile Center and Slithers and Crawls in Southern California. She especially enjoys caring for reptiles—her Argentine tegu, Charmander, even has a following on TikTok! Jasmine is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to provide unreleasable animals with the best lives possible.

Gabe is part of the Maintenance team at Animal Ark, where he helps ensure the sanctuary and its habitats are safe and well-maintained for the animals. With a lifetime of experience working with animals—including horses and tigers—Gabe has a particular fondness for tigers and wolves. He enjoys a wide range of hobbies, from playing hockey and guitar to drawing, photography, and spending time outdoors. Gabe is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to provide a forever home for animals while educating the public about their importance to the planet.

Wesley is a Keeper at Animal Ark, where he cares for and supports the sanctuary’s animals while contributing to their enrichment and training. He began his work with animals on a farm, teaching horseback riding and shadowing a veterinarian, then studied Wildlife Management and Ecology at Utah State University while gaining experience with the Utah Department of Wildlife and the National Park Service. Wes has a special fondness for raccoons and enjoys providing them with care and enrichment. Before moving west, he trained to compete on American Ninja Warrior. He is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to give animals in need a safe home and dedicated care.

Ashley is a Keeper at Animal Ark, where she cares for and works closely with the sanctuary’s animals.She earned a certificate in Animal Care and Training from Moorpark College’s ANCT program and has experience working with a variety of species, from training lions to flying hawks. Ashley especially enjoys spending time with Elsie, the mountain lion, and loves seeing all the animals up close. She has grown up with horses since age five and, outside of work, enjoys gaming, watching anime, and listening to K-pop. Ashley appreciates Animal Ark’s fun, supportive environment and the caring team she works alongside every day.

Kate is a Keeper at Animal Ark, where she builds strong relationships with the sanctuary’s animals and teaches visitors about their wild counterparts. She earned her degree in Wildlife & Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota and has experience in tiger conservation and gibbon research in Thailand. Kate loves learning the personalities and quirks of the animals, providing enrichment, and sharing their stories with the public. Her favorite animal is a giraffe, and she enjoys wildlife photography and doing morning crosswords. Kate is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to give visitors, especially kids, the same excitement and learning experiences she cherished as a child.

Brittney Thibodeau is an Animal Care staff member at Animal Ark, where she combines her passion for training animals with conservation education. She earned her B.S. in Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity from UC Davis and began her animal care career interning with the Belize Raptor Rehabilitation Center, working with birds of prey and non-releasable ambassador animals. Brittney later completed her A.S. in Exotic Animal Care and Training at Moorpark College, gaining hands-on experience training a wide variety of species, from tigers and primates to birds and donkeys. She especially enjoys working with Rocket, Rey, and Leia, the raccoons, who always keep things interesting. Outside of work, Brittney can often be found practicing archery, and she is inspired by Animal Ark’s mission to provide animals with a safe home while educating the public about conservation.

President

Treasurer

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