Maria Buckner Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Washington, United States

Care for and record a variety of qualitative and quantitative data with accuracy for 25+ arthropod species in the ZIMS database. Create and update husbandry, maintenance, and project tracking systems for the animals and life support systems in my care. Coordinate Woodland Park Zoo’s participation in the interinstitutional Peruvian Firestick SWARM (Safety Web for Arthropod Reproduction Management), including reporting census, temperature, humidity & other data. Support field work, including the collection of a variety of beetles in Tucson, AZ for husbandry research & development. Recently began supporting the husbandry and recordkeeping of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly project, a local reintroduction effort. Participated in collection, population management, and exhibit planning, including researching husbandry improvements, proposing new animals to bring into the collection, and providing support for a total rehaul of the Bug World exhibit space January - May 2023. Represent Woodland Park Zoo in media appearances, tours, keeper talks, including a presentation on revamping the Bug World exhibit space at the Invertebrates in Education and Conservation Conference in 2023. Prepare for USDA and AZA permitting inspections for multiple exhibit spaces, as well as utilize my familiarity with captive nonnative arthropod permits to conduct daily containment practices. Fully trained 7 zookeepers with minimal invertebrate experience to assist in the Bug World lab, endangered snail lab, and walk through butterfly tent spaces

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

I represented a local specialty coffee chain at its Whole Foods location, leading a team of 3 baristas in creating a welcoming, customer service driven atmosphere for guests. My role included reviewing applications, hiring and training new baristas on register, barista skills, customer service expectations, flow of business and overall store cleanliness. I also scheduled employees as well as conducted performance reviews for baristas on a biannual basis. I managed the store’s financial performance, including tracking of KPIs and maintaining inventory. In addition, I provided technical troubleshooting for both physical coffee brewing equipment and POS software system, as well as performing routine maintenance

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

I helped manage & perform the duties associated with the personal shopping service at the Uptown location, including acting as the primary contact person. I provided great customer service, trained new employees, and helped around the store in other capacities as needed.

Greater New Orleans Area

I utilized principles of husbandry for native & exotic, venomous & nonvenomous arthropod species including daily feeding, cleaning, sorting, health monitoring, & recordkeeping. While the emphasis was on invertebrate animals, my role also included caring for vertebrate animals including reptiles, amphibians, birds, & fish. In addition, three or more hours of my day were dedicated to developing and interpreting themes about arthropods for guests. I trained interns, new hires, and volunteers in principles of husbandry and interpretation. I participated in special outreach events, including New Orleans BugFest 2019 and co-organized a blacklighting event for the Girl Scouts in March 2019. I participate in field collecting trips on a seasonal basis. In addition, my role as the youth volunteer coordinator focuses on managing the youth team, running weekly meetings, writing email digests, and developing interpretive themes based on animal availability.

Greater St. Louis Area

As a seasonal invertebrate keeper, I utilized principles of husbandry for native, exotic, & endangered invertebrate species, including daily feeding, cleaning, sorting, tagging, health monitoring, basic record keeping, and assembly of enclosures and displays. In addition, I processed lepidopteran pupae shipments for display. I interpreted displays, presented animal encounters, & answered guests' questions. I ensured the building was closed and animal collection contained by myself three days a week during the summer season. The highlight of my work was participating in the release of the American Burying Beetle and a Mark/Recapture event in Summer 2018.

Poway, Ca

I worked at a variety of day use, camping & historical parks in urban and rural settings, in addition to an open space preserve in San Diego County. As part of a team, I helped develop and implement natural science education for school groups and the general public including plant identification and ethnobotany, basic ecology, animal anatomy & adaptations, snakes, arachnids, insects, birds, astronomy, and the historical and cultural aspects of the parks via hikes, tours, and touch tables. I cared for the reptile and raptor animal collection, performed routine maintenance, and interpreted informational displays and rules for visitors.

Santee, Ca

Teach-n-Tutor is a Supplemental Education Services (SES) provider in the state of California which works with Title I public schools to provide one-on-one tutoring to low-income elementary students in language arts and math. I worked with 7 students ranging from 1st to 5th grades in the 2015-2016 school year, creating individualize program to meet the Common Core standards determined by my supervisor, the student’s teacher, and the student’s parents. I communicated with the parents to assess their needs and ensure their satisfaction with my service in person and over the phone. I taught basic arithmetic to 4th and 5th graders. I prepared monthly student progress reports and the required payroll paperwork for SES providers.

St. Louis, Mo

Responsible for coordinating all aspects of enrichment & sports camps for middle school aged children: registration & maintenance of records, communication with parents & camp moderators, and obtaining supplies.

Irving, Tx

Contacted, qualified, and answered prospective students' questions via telephone. Involved in depth use of Slate.

Irving, Tx

Provide campus tours & share my University of Dallas experience with prospective students and their families during summer hours and official visit events throughout the school year.

Irving, Tx

Solely responsible for vision and execution of seasonal illustrations for chalkboard menu.

Irving, Tx

Sign in students and gym members and monitor condition of equipment

Irving, Tx

Assist at weekly labs and answer student questions. Offered weekly tutor hours. Graded lab manuals, tests, and homework. Inputted grades into eCollege.

Irving, Tx

Answer questions for office visitors in person and via phone and email. Decorate and display wall banners advertising campus events in order to promote student life activities.

University Of Dallas

Acted as classroom assistant and tutor to at-risk, gifted/talented middle school students in Statistics and Technical Writing courses. Monitored attendance, supervised lunch & recess, chaperoned field trips, and communicated with program director & instructors daily.

High School

Activities and Societies: National Honor Society

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology, General