Megan Ross' love of science supports her passion for animal welfare and conservation

By: Start TV Staff     Posted: February 5, 2020, 8:00AM

Megan Reinertsen Ross was passionate about animals and nature as a young girl, playing with her neighborhood friends in Atlanta and visiting her grandparents in New Hampshire.

She earned her B.S. in biology and psychology from James Madison University and went on to earn an M.S. and PhD. in Psychology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She became the first female director of Chicago's renowned Lincoln Park Zoo, where she oversaw both operations and programs while continuing research related to her interests in animal welfare and applied animal behavior. In September 2021, she was named President & CEO of Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo after Kevin J. Bell announced his retirement.

Watch Megan talk about how her childhood inspired her career choice

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