Stacy Graison

Zoo Atlanta, Director of Education

Stacy Graison received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida, in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. She minored in Zoology and specialized in Conservation. She received her Masters of Science degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Ecological Teaching and Learning. Stacy began her career as a docent for the Jacksonville Zoo and as a volunteer for the Lubee Foundation. Her next endeavor was as a Conservation Student Association intern for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. For US FWS, Stacy worked at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Key Largo, Florida. There she conducted population surveys for six different endangered species, including the vulnerable American crocodile. Stacy’s next position allowed her to enter the zoo and aquarium business as the veterinary technician for Parrot Jungle and Gardens. That experience sent her next to Lion Country Safari as the veterinary technician and registrar, the manager of all animal transactions and medical records. Her next tenure brought her to Zoo Atlanta as the Reservations Supervisor where she managed all incoming program reservations and associated revenue. This is when Stacy began her teaching career, delving into the world of teacher training. Due to her success in creating teacher workshops, Stacy was promoted to Supervisor of Overnight Programs, managing the program content, instructor training, and evaluation of the Education Department’s highest revenue-generating program. Continued achievements provided Stacy with another promotion to the Manager of School and Family programs, where she managed all of the revenue-generating programs for Zoo Atlanta’s Education Department, including overnights, camps, school programs, tours, just to name a few. After a couple years, Stacy decided to return to her home state of Florida and take on the Manager of Public Programs for The Florida Aquarium. This allowed Stacy to manage the other side of education available at zoos and aquariums, the programming that comes with the purchase of admission. Stacy managed staff for interpretive presentations, dive shows, tours, touch tanks, boat tours, and many others. Stacy returned to Zoo Atlanta in May of 2008 as the Director of Education. In this role, Stacy oversees the entire education staff, including docents and teen volunteers. She manages all of the revenue-generating programming, public programming, exhibit interpretive development and marketing, development and partnerships related to education. She served for the National Association for Interpretation Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Aquaria committee and currently serves for Zoo Atlanta’s Board of Directors Education Committee, Association for Zoos and Aquariums’ Education Liaison committee and Georgia’s Advanced Training for Environmental Education Advisory Committee.