Melanie Sorensen Email & Phone Number

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

Directs the management, planning and implementation of the integrated conservation and education plans. Oversees budget, staff and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders on conservation and education messaging and programming. Accountable for achieving zoo strategic priorities and goals for conservation and education.

Portland, Oregon, United States

Lead a team through a process of reimagining the zoo’s celebrated, award-winning education program by engaging community partners and internal stakeholders to create a set of educational programs that support the zoo's strategic plan and integrated conservation action plan. Focusing the rebuild on innovative, evaluation and equity.

Houston, Texas Area

• Oversees all aspects of the Conservation Education Department, maintains a culture of evaluation-based decision-making, provides strategic direction and program development for volunteers, interns, teens, 26 fee-based.
• Manages and mentors a team of up to 19 full-time staff and 75 part-time and seasonal staff
• Prepares and presents reports to the board and committees quarterly in addition to regular reports to the senior executive team to share the story of impact of these programs in our community.
• Appointed by CEO to co-chair a cross-departmental team of leaders to create new revenue streams during the pandemic. This collaborative effort resulted in $1.1 million.
• Awarded the first-ever AZA Volunteer Engagement Award for Houston Zoo in 2018
• Received the 2019 AZA Education Award for our Wildlife Saving School Partnership program

Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Provided direct oversight of the educational, interpretive, and an animal care program including staff oversight, budgeting, program development, implementation, and exhibit development.
• Supervised six full-time staff and 30 part-time staff, plus the 140-member docent program
• Managed an animal care team and collaborated on decisions of euthanasia, handling protocols, for a newly designed public animal ambassador space called The Loft
• Guided initiatives that directly aligned with zoo’s mission, including the expansion of the teen program by adding adventure trips and visiting international wildlife-saving partners
• Led a zoo-wide initiative with cross-departmental leadership to increase the staff’s storytelling skills

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Teaching Professor for the Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Leisure Department Developed a new three-credit 5000 level undergraduate and graduate level course called “Programming Outdoor and Environmental Education”.Created a collaborative partnership with well-respected Wilderness Inquiry a non-profit organization that helps people from all walks of life to.

Madison, Wisconsin Area And Kenya

Our mission is to pursue a God-centered response to environmental challenges that brings glory to the Creator, advances the cause of Christ, and leads to a transformation of the people and the land that sustains them.

Apple Valley, Minnesota

Develops, implements and evaluates creative new educational programs offered at the Minnesota Zoo. Coordinates all teen to adult programing involving effective communication with internal and external partners.

Apple Valley, Minnesota

A member along with the Zoo’s Collection Manager and the Directors of Conservation and Director of Biological ProgramsServes on committee that reviews and evaluates grant applications for the Ulysses S. Seal Conservation Grant Program

• This program is designed to build capacity and future leaders in international conservation of wildlife within existing conservation organizations.
• Developed and implemented a conservation campaign
• Collaborated with successful team members from Wildlife Conservation Society, Discovery Channel, Defenders of Wildlife, World Wildlife Fund and Sierra Club during this two year project
• Participated in a two-year leadership development program with various other leaders within the field of conservation

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

An adventure travel company that provides all-encompassing travel experiences that empowers people and enriches lives by giving back to the locals in the places we play.

San Luis, Costa Rica

Coordinated itineraries for eco-lodge guests from all over the world as the Resident Naturalist

Fiji

Trained local Fijian guides by holding leadership workshops and using an interpretive training manual I developed for their village and snorkeling tour

Kenya

Created a teacher-training program aimed at increasing the environmental stewardship and leadership of the local teachers

Mongolia

Assisted Ph.D. candidate with field research including small mammal trapping and tracking nine radio collared Pallas cats

Maed, Environmental Education And Natural Sciences

B.S. Environmental Science, Biology

Activities and Societies: President and Founder of Environmental Club

Environmental Studies, Environmental Science

Activities and Societies: Field Botany, Limnology, Insect Ecology, Land Resource Management