Dana Kennedy received her B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University and holds a M.A. in Zoology from Miami University’s Global Field Program.  She worked as a zookeeper at the North Carolina Zoo for seven years where she excelled at animal training and visitor education.  Her M.A. work centered around a zookeeper’s role in conservation education in relation to human-wildlife conflict.  Some of her most memorable training moments included team training white rhinos for voluntary artificial insemination, training baboons for ultrasounds and voluntary blood draws, and helping a bear overcome both weight issues and stereotypic behaviors through training and diet changes.

Through her work as a graduate student she realized that her true passion lies in education.  She began transitioning to the education field shortly after she graduated, teaching classes for the Global Field Program that centered around conservation, education, and community.  As a graduate from an online program, she understands the needs of students learning remotely and strives to take the distance out of distance education.  Outside of teaching, she focuses much of her time on her two young daughters and enjoys hiking and traveling.