Philadelphia Zoo in Parkside
For those of us in the Parkside Community, the Philadelphia Zoo is like an old neighborhood friend. It’s probably the first cultural institution many neighborhood kids go to with their parents. Of course,
it’s not just Parkside residents who visit the zoo. People all over the city come to visit the Philadelphia Zoo. In fact, people from all over the world come to visit our beloved zoo. The Philadelphia Zoo first opened its doors to the public 164 years ago. Since its opening, the zoo has had 16 different presidents. However, none have been as history-making as Dr.
Jo-Elle Mogerman, who is the first woman and person of color CEO and president of this revered institution.
After Vikram Dewan announced his retirement as CEO last year, the zoo began a nationwide search for a new president. After an extensive search, they were able to bring Dr. Mogerman to Philadelphia.
Dr. Mogerman
“I am honored to be selected as the next President and CEO of Philadelphia Zoo,” said Dr. Mogerman. “I Look forward to leading Philadelphia’s exceptional team to advance the Zoo’s mission and further its impact on the region while also contributing to conservation in ways that are meaningful locally, regionally, and nationally. There’s a lot of amazing work underway at the Philadelphia Zoo and together with the community and the Zoo team, I am certain we will catapult the nation’s first zoo into a model for zoos of the future.” Dr. Mogerman’s quote is taken from the zoo’s website.
Dr. Mogerman has an impressive educational background and work history. She comes to us from Saint Louis, Mo., where she was the director of their WildCare Park.
Before that, she was vice president of learning and community at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois., and she has spent time in various leadership roles at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois.
Dr. Mogerman has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Macalester College, a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of
Minnesota and she has her Doctorate in biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Mogerman, was kind enough to meet with me while still settling into her new office. She had only been at work as the CEO for 18 days and in addition, it was her birthday. I’m not sure many people would be as accommodating as she was. During our interview, I learned more about her life and what sent her on this road to care about the animals from
around the world.
As a child growing up in the 70s on the South Side of Chicago Dr. Mogerman was influenced by her love of nature, animals, and a healthy routine of nature programming that played on television at the time.
Programs such as Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, among others. Those of us in the right age group will remember the programming. Here she saw a world of wildlife conservation and exotic animals from around the world. From here her course in life was set. She would pursue a career in the biological and environmental sciences.
Dr. Mogerman
At some point in college, “said Dr. Morgerman, I fell into science education because I discovered …….. I was an African American woman who was very good at science. Very good at the discipline of science.
But I was also really good at translating science for regular people, and not all scientists are good at that. So, I am a really good translator and because of my life experiences, I am really good at translating
scientific concepts for all of us”.
She started working with children at the Minnesota Zoo, and discovered an affinity for children she did not realize she had. She also realized what a role model she had become. She has a phrase ( “It’s really hard to be something you can’t see,”) that she uses that I really like, which suits her very well.
I think she is the perfect model for young AfricanAmerican young women to aspire to.
During our talk, I asked her what her goals were or what direction she would like to take the zoo under her leadership.
Dr. Mogerman:
“So, it’s loose at this point. Philadelphia is America’s first Zoo, and Philadelphia is a place of firsts, and it loves being a place of firsts. I picked up on this fact very early. So the question is how do we, and I didn’t say me, but I say we with community involvement. How do we make the Philadelphia Zoo the Urban Zoo of the future?”
Dr. Mogerman
“I don’t have that worked out yet but I can tell you it engages the community in that process. That’s one key difference”. Dr. Mogerman does not have everything worked out yet but whatever her goals for the zoo are we can rest assured that it will involve community engagement.
My final question to Dr. Mogerman was if she had a message for the Parkside community and beyond?
Please see below:
Thank you for supporting your Philadelphia Zoo over the years. As the newest neighbor, I look forward to getting to know you.”
Jo-Elle
The Parkside Journal 