Stephanie Joseph
Curator of Education
New York Aquarium (WCS)
Statement of Interest:
During the last year, it became more important than ever to lean on the relationships and experiences of our colleagues. Connecting with others to discuss new ideas and plans to pivot our programs and facilities into this increased virtual realm offered support and valuable conversations. As we prepare to welcome back more guests, it is imperative that we continue to reach out to each other for best practices and creative techniques to engage our audiences. I want to explore how our organizations can work together to expand our reach and offerings to our residents in safe and exciting new ways. I am also committed to increasing community engagement opportunities through partnerships around the city, and I look forward to working with the board to develop more opportunities for professionals to connect and collaborate.
Goals for NYCMER:
As a NYCMER board member, I want to build new relationships throughout the organization and assist in creating events for our members to connect and work together. I am also interested in advocacy and the role it can play among our membership and our organizations. I often meet with the WCS Government Affairs team to better understand their advocacy process. Through this mentoring and working with the NYCMER board, I want to continue to build my knowledge and skills in this area and expand our advocacy efforts.
Professional Experience:
Over the last 20 years, my career path led me through several environmental education positions at a variety of organizations including Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Audubon Nature Institute, and now, the New York Aquarium. I learned best practices in informal learning, youth development, volunteer management, program evaluation, team building, and public relations. At NYA, I assisted in the opening of Ocean Wonders: Sharks! and look forward to starting programs in the newly renovated Playquarium. Last year, I collaborated on a NYCMER conference presentation focusing on engaging managerial techniques and also presented a session on youth advocacy at the 2019 AZA conference.