Tatiana Norden ’24
"Unity helped me graduate in less than half the time I anticipated and set me up for success in the job market"
What made your experience at Unity special?
Unity allowed me to be open and share my real working experience with my peers in all of my courses. Prior to Unity I had been in the animal care field for 10 years in multiple settings like wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife education, and Large Carnivore husbandry. What made my educational experience unique to me is the feeling of being able to contribute to the modern education of animal care while also learning about advancements and opportunities through my courses that also benefited me greatly.
Where has your career taken you?
I am currently working at the Los Angeles Zoo in the reptile department as a demand keeper, meaning that I get to work on all sections that the reptile department is divided into. So, somedays I am caring for venomous species like vipers and rattlesnakes, and other days I get to work with crocodilian species like alligators and caiman. I am so thankful to be a part of this great team and department because I am gaining new working experience with multiple species I haven’t worked with before.
How has your Unity education benefited your career?
Unity has set me up for success in many ways I now recognize. All of the practice gained through recording presentations for my professors gave me secondary practice for all on the online and in person interviews applying for jobs after the program. I also got to express my newfound knowledge in other aspects of animal care like animal nutrition, exhibit design and breeding conservation programs which made me stand out as a qualified candidate.
What advice would you give to current students?
The main advice I would give current students is know where you want to work and look into seeing if your preferred facility has a volunteer program or hands on program were you can work closely with the staff. Building a relationship allows a facility to see how you show up every day and judge your work ethic. With both education and real working experience combined, you standout as a unique candidate with the best of both worlds. Even if you’re not near were you ultimately want to end up, look into getting experience somewhere local, don’t wait, that way you’ll be ready when it’s time to graduate.
