Senior Education Specialist, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Stacey Luhring has been managing the Volunteer Services & Visitor Experience at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium for 10 years, with 15 years total time employed at PDZA (for the first 5 years she was an aquarist). Stacey was attending the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma WA when she fell in love with PDZA. She completed her undergraduate thesis on the righting behavior of sea stars at PDZA and, after graduating (BS in Biology), worked as seasonal summer staff in the aquarium. Stacey continued her education, receiving a masters degree (MS in Environmental Education) from Florida Institute of Technology. Her Masters thesis work was once again, at PDZA – this time on the impacts of signage for visitor experiences. After graduate school, a temporary job at the PDZA aquarium, turned into a full time position, and 15 years later you’ll find Stacey still with a love for facilitating learning about the natural world with anyone that will listen!
Stacey feels she can offer ZWPA members a forum to discuss implementation of social marketing methods with interpretive techniques in order to effectively change visitor actions. And with certification in volunteer administration and years of experience working with volunteers, she’s likely to be able to offer support and advice for those who deal with volunteers.
When it comes to relating management (the track of this newsletter!) to interpretation Stacey offers this bit of insight:
All personnel on staff at a facility from education to guest services to maintenance and zoological, need to understand that they are interpreting to visitors when they are asked a question. With that in mind, the concept of interpretation and the messages we deliver need to be taught to all staff.
If Stacey’s experience and knowledge don’t make you want to get to know her better, then maybe this next fun fact will …
Like the rest of us, it can probably be said that Stacey lives and breathes her work. However, believe it or not, she has other passions as well and one of Stacey’s favorite hobbies is decorating cakes. She actually made her own three tiered wedding cake. Impressive!
Fantastic experience and satisfaction for your sweet tooth! To connect with Stacey …
Reach her by phone: 253-404-3695
Or by email: Stacey.Luhring@pdza.org
