JESSICA C. LINDSAY
Denver,CO
Summary
Scientifically driven exotic and domestic animal care specialist with 4+ years paid experience in Association of Zoo and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoological institutions. Extensive history managing complex living ecosystems for an extremely wide array of both invertebrate and vertebrate species. Practiced in safety procedure development and preventative care system development across zoological environments. Skilled in regimented living organism care, climate regulation, and the cultivation of high-maintenance species. Experienced educator and trainer with a proven ability to translate advanced scientific concepts into engaging instruction and practical care protocols. Passionate about flora and fauna stewardship, scientific innovation, and creating sustainable systems that support ecosystem health, conservation of natural resources, and community learning.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Long Term Substitute Science Teacher
Humboldt County School District
Winnemucca, NV
04.2022 - 10.2025
- Instructed Secondary Education subjects including Earth Science, Physical Science, Biology, Leadership, and Academic Success for 8th through 12th grade students.
- Supervised and educated students with creative, engaging curriculum that followed the NSC and NGSS regulations.
- Managed classroom behavior, laboratory procedure, lab safety, hands-on experiments, teenage hormones and more.
- Provided support and guidance to all students to maintain a collaborative, fun, and safe educational environment for my students.
- Created detailed reports on assessment data to update administration and parents on individual student behavior and academic progress.
- Utilized advanced technical skills to troubleshoot a wide variety of complex problems and used ingenuity to implement solutions.
Wildlife Preserve Managerial Assitant
Utica Zoo’s - Beaversprite Wildlife Preserve
Dolgeville, NY
02.2022 - 06.2022
- Coordinated management scheduling and liaised with Utica Zoo to streamline communication and operations.
- Facilitated meetings, ensuring attendance and maintaining minutes for accurate records.
- Prepared internal communication documents and developed marketing strategies and social media content to enhance outreach.
- Handled transportation, presentation, and care of ambassador animals to and from Utica Zoo.
- Created and led educational outdoor events, field trips for K-8 students, and youth nature camps.
- Established wildlife preserve as designated monarch waystation for species conservation and education.
- Curated indoor nature displays and responsible for opening gift store at the Beaversprite Nature Center to fund the preserve's local conservation efforts.
- Executed wildlife management tasks for six North American beaver colonies and diverse flora and fauna.
Zookeeper III & Intern Coordinator
Utica Zoo
Utica, NY
09.2019 - 06.2022
- Trained and demonstrated expert care with 100+ animal species thus advancing to Keeper III and Intern coordinator at an AZA-accredited zoological institution through reliability, organization and communication.
- Utilized team collaboration, operant conditioning and behavioral husbandry techniques to enhance animal welfare.
- Specialized in mammal husbandry and training with species such as African Painted dogs (Lycaon pictus), Pallas’s cat (Octocolbus manual), Striped hyaenas (Hyaena hyaena), African lions (Panthera leo), California Sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and more. All species husbandry will be discussed upon request.
- Facilitated public animal encounters and transported endangered species to comply with Species Survival Plan (SSP) Coordinator plans while ensuring compliance with USDA and AZA regulations.
- Assisted veterinary and technician all vet care. Such as medication administration (oral and injection), tube feeding, nebulizer treatments, euthanasia procedures, and more.
- Developed protocols for temperature parameters, keeper talks, and safety protocols to enhance safety for animals and guests.
- Revitalized intern program by creating new curriculum to strengthen intern training and support for keeper staff.
- Provided animal husbandry across six of seven animal areas at Utica Zoo and was assigned the designated lead in SSP and TAGs for Western Barn owls (Tyto alba) and the zoo’s invertebrate collection.
Veterinary Assistant
VCA Deer Creek Emergency Animal Hospital
Englewood, CO
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Assisted seven veterinariany specialists and numerous veterinary technicians during examinations, triage, patient treatment, and surgical procedures.
- Monitored patient vital signs and accurately recorded and reported health data in patient charts to communicate for optimal patient care.
- Improved hospital operations by taking hospital inventory, ordering, and stocking of medications, vaccinations, medical and cleaning supplies.
- Upheld sanitation standards in surgery suites, quarantine locations, exam rooms, treatment areas, and patient enclosures.
Butterfly Zookeeper
Butterfly Pavilion
Westminster, CO
05.2018 - 08.2019
- Gained AZA-accredited institution experience as a Butterfly keeper of seasonal greenhouse where our team successfully raised 770 Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and 3 species of Silk moths.
- Educated Colorado community on importance of local pollinator species and ways to support diverse pollinators, fostering environmental awareness beyond our facility.
- Instructed Denver Botanic Garden’s volunteers and new keepers on husbandry practices and USDA and APHIS regulations, enhancing team knowledge and compliance.
- Responsible for weekly butterfly shipments, acclimation, husbandry and greenhouse release.
Entomology Zookeeping Intern
Butterfly Pavilion
Westminster, CO
01.2019 - 04.2019
- Monitored, documented health data, and managed precise climate controls for a diverse collection of 300+ invertebrate species across research and holding rooms, ensuring optimal environmental stability.
- Strictly enforced USDA APHIS protocols regarding the containment, shipping, and disposal of exotic species, maintaining 100% institutional compliance with federal biosecurity standards to maintain the institution's AZA-accreditation.
- Spearheaded a successful breeding program for Dead Leaf Mantises (Deroplatys lobata), achieving a 100% success rate for both reproduction and male survival (4/4) through strategic behavioral monitoring and intervention.
- Assisted in the daily care and dietary management of various frugivorous and carnivorous invertebrate species, developing expertise in specialized nutrition and habitat enrichment for predatory and herbivorous taxa.
Education
Certified Exotic Animal Training Professional (CEATP) - Exotic Carnivore, Avian, And Primate Training
Animal Behavior Institute
07.2022 - 05.2026
Bachelor of Science - Zoology & Animal Science
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 08.2011 - 12.2016
Wildlife Management, Ecology & Sociology -
School of Field Studies
Tanzania, Africa 05.2014 - 08.2014
Alternative Route To Licensure - Secondary Education And Biology Endorsement
Great Basin Community College
Elko, NV04-2029
Skills
- Animal Care and Behavior
- Operant Conditioning - Exotic & Domestic
- Flora Growth & Management
- Public Speaking
- Safety & Emergency Procedure Planning
- Wildlife Photography
- Field & Lab Research Management
- Team Collaboration
- Effective Group Instruction
- Light & Heavy Equipment Operation
Certification
- CPR & First Aid
- NV & CO Hunter's Safety
- NV Substitute Teacher License (5 yr)
- Sensory Inclusive Certified by Kulture City
- Certified Interpretive Guide
- San Diego Zoo Certifications:
- Safe Capture: Chemical Immobilization
- Animal Nutrition
- Animal Welfare Professional
- Disaster Preparedness
- Exhibit Design
- Zoonotic Disease and Biosecurity
- Government Regulations and
- Inspection Readiness
- Numerous species-specific husbandry certificates, such as Loxodonta africana
Professional Profile & References
- LinkedIn profile URL shown below displays references, certificates, photographic documentation, volunteer experience and more detailed information: www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-lindsay-093979169/
- Additional references will be provided upon request.
Timeline
Certified Exotic Animal Training Professional (CEATP) - Exotic Carnivore, Avian, And Primate Training
Animal Behavior Institute
07.2022 - 05.2026
Long Term Substitute Science Teacher
Humboldt County School District
04.2022 - 10.2025
Wildlife Preserve Managerial Assitant
Utica Zoo’s - Beaversprite Wildlife Preserve
02.2022 - 06.2022
Zookeeper III & Intern Coordinator
Utica Zoo
09.2019 - 06.2022
Entomology Zookeeping Intern
Butterfly Pavilion
01.2019 - 04.2019
Veterinary Assistant
VCA Deer Creek Emergency Animal Hospital
08.2018 - 08.2019
Butterfly Zookeeper
Butterfly Pavilion
05.2018 - 08.2019
Wildlife Management, Ecology & Sociology -
School of Field Studies
05.2014 - 08.2014
Bachelor of Science - Zoology & Animal Science
Oklahoma State University
08.2011 - 12.2016
Alternative Route To Licensure - Secondary Education And Biology Endorsement
Great Basin Community College