I was born in Nashville, Tennessee and went to college at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Having already started internships and volunteerships with the Nashville Zoo’s carnivore department, I chose the SFS Tanzania program because of my interest in the cats and other charismatic megafauna of Africa. I have always had an interest in why humans think the way they do about certain animals. Having experience with zoos, I was also curious about how people interact and learn about animals.

During my time in Tanzania, my Directed Research focused on human animal relations and the perceptions of human wildlife conflict. My subsection focused on perceived conflict with mesopredators, crows, and raptors. It was fascinating to hear different perspectives about animals from those who come to see and enjoy them, versus those who live among them. Upon leaving SFS, I graduated from Wisconsin with a degree in Zoology with a Certificate in Environmental Studies. I launched my own photography business (Walsh Visual Media) from the images I captured during excursions, safaris, and non-program days.

I went on to become a marine mammal trainer at the Aquarium of Niagara, an AZA-accredited aquarium in Niagara Falls, NY, working with seals, sea lions, and penguins. After 6 years in training, I moved into the Aquarium’s Communications department as a digital content producer and social media manager. Though I missed working with animals daily, the communications role provided a platform to share animal stories (many of which are rescued/non-releasable) with the greater public and engage with others on how we share the world with animals. I have since grown to oversee the Aquarium’s owned media channels and help to shape our overall content strategy and communication campaigns.

Favorite SFS Memory:

Our group was the first to be entirely located at the Tanzania center as opposed to splitting time with Kenya. Despite being the largest group they’d had, our class was extremely close and shared many good moments. Driving through the Serengeti gate will be a memory forever locked in my mind as will waking up early on the final day to hike as a group to watch the last sunrise atop Moyo Hill.

In addition to advancing my interests in human/animal relations, SFS led to deep friendships. I’ve reconnected in person with more than 15 people from the program: three were in my wedding and one is my daughter’s godfather.