Kassidy Robertson
Hermitage,TN
Summary
With a proven track record with the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, I excel in my zoological knowledge and fostering conservation awareness. My dedication to animal care through volunteer work, and a positive, team-oriented attitude, have significantly enhanced zoo education.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Animal Diet Technician
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
05.2024 - Current
- Preparation of diets for all animals in the zoo, in accordance with diet specifications for all required departments.
- Creating food enrichment for holidays and special events.
- Implemented routines for nurturing and preserving food insect populations.
- Educating the public through keeper talks, and other educational sessions.
- Working with frozen whole prey items, and butchering whole prey.
- Maintaining clean and sanitary conditions of food preparation areas, including counters, floors, coolers, freezers, grain rooms, and supply areas.
- Zookeeper job shadowing: shadowing animal care departments through their daily animal care and husbandry.
Animal Care Volunteer
Harmony Wildlife Rehab
Nashville, TN
12.2024 - Current
- Assist vet technicians with animal husbandry, including feeding, cleaning, and maintaining animals in the rehabilitation process.
- Preparing animal diets, along with performing feedings on young, injured animals.
- Hands-on work with reptiles, mammals, and birds, including, but not limited to, opossums, birds of prey, and small reptiles.
- Helping with adjusting rehab animals to their new environment, and preparing them for re-release to the wild.
- Watch and assist with euthanasia, and the processing of animal carcasses.
- Cleaning, including habitats, laundry, and dishes.
Education and Animal Care Volunteership; Job Shadow
The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
05.2023 - 05.2024
- Educating and interacting with visitors about animals and areas in the zoo.
- Attending regular animal educational training sessions with other staff and volunteers.
- Working with keepers, preparing animal diets on a weekly basis.
- Learning about animal care, diets, feeding, and husbandry.
- Volunteering at special zoo events (i.e., Boo at the Zoo).
- Shadowing zookeepers in animal care and husbandry, including marmosets, kinkajous, barnyard animals, meerkats, tortoises, and more.
Field Study in Tropical Marine Ecology
Gerace Research Center
San Salvador, Bahamas
03.2024
- Field research and observation on tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, and fauna native to the Bahamas and surrounding areas.
- Research Project on Tropical Ecology in San Salvador, the Bahamas. Project: Ant Diversity on San Salvador, The Bahamas.
- Snorkeling and hiking.
- Collecting and analyzing specimens for research.
Student Lead of Logistics and Staff Development; Student Lead of Programming and Events
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
04.2022 - 05.2024
- Conducting interviews and leading new hires through the onboarding process. There is a large focus on scheduling and shift coverage.
- Managing a team of lifeguards, mentoring a group of head guards, and planning/leading in-service training.
- Disciplinary role, including holding disciplinary meetings and writing disciplinary reports.
- A marketing team member is helping with social media advertising.
- Planning and managing special events, such as pool parties and pool rentals. Managing and scheduling private and group swim lessons.
- Interacting with customers regarding rentals, swim lessons, and events.
- Working with pool pumps as a certified pool operator.
WSI Swim Instructor/Fitness Instructor/Lifeguard/Head Guard
University of Tennessee Chattanooga
06.2020 - 05.2022
- Advised and warned swimmers of improper or dangerous activities, enforcing pool regulations and water safety policies.
- Achieved water safety instructor and lifeguarding instructor certifications.
- Taught safety courses, including CPR, Lifeguarding, and BBP.
- Aqua fitness workout class instructor.
- Youth and adult swim instructor, offering private and group swim lessons, working with all age groups.
Education
Bachelor's - Science: Biology, Innovations in Honors Minor
University of Tennessee At Chattanooga
05.2024
Skills
- Zoo safety protocols
- Wildlife rehabilitation
- Positive and team-oriented attitude
- Animal enrichment activities
- Animal observations
- Water system and pump experience
- Public education; Public Speaking
- Animal husbandry and nutrition
Certification
- Lifeguard Instructor (LGI), American Red Cross, 01/01/22, Present
- Water Safety Instructor (WSI), American Red Cross, 01/01/22, Present
- Certified Pool Operator, 2022, Present
Affiliations
- Pollinator and Hummingbird Team Member at Nashville Zoo.
- Delta Zeta Sorority Alumni
- UTC Orchestra member (Bassoon).
Timeline
Animal Care Volunteer
Harmony Wildlife Rehab
12.2024 - Current
Animal Diet Technician
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
05.2024 - Current
Field Study in Tropical Marine Ecology
Gerace Research Center
03.2024
Education and Animal Care Volunteership; Job Shadow
The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
05.2023 - 05.2024
Student Lead of Logistics and Staff Development; Student Lead of Programming and Events
The University of Tennessee Chattanooga
04.2022 - 05.2024
WSI Swim Instructor/Fitness Instructor/Lifeguard/Head Guard
University of Tennessee Chattanooga
06.2020 - 05.2022
Bachelor's - Science: Biology, Innovations in Honors Minor
University of Tennessee At Chattanooga