Colleen Cavanaugh

Colleen Cavanaugh is an experienced conservation educator currently serving as the Youth Conservation Programs Manager at Houston Zoo, where responsibilities include mentoring staff and developing programs to inspire young leaders in conservation. Previous roles at the Houston Zoo include Teen Programs Supervisor, where Colleen developed engaging experiences for teenagers. As a Board Member for the International Zoo Educators Association and an Education Advisor for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Small Cat Alliance, Colleen contributes to strategic planning and educational initiatives within the zoo community. Colleen’s background includes volunteer recruitment at Rogue Valley Family YMCA, budget management at Siskiyou Environmental Education Center, and teaching at South Mountain YMCA. Colleen's early experiences involved conservation education presentations at Disney's Animal Kingdom and research internships focusing on wild felids and environmental education. Colleen holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education from Southern Oregon University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona.