Leigh Clayton

Leigh Clayton currently serves as the Director of the New York Aquarium at the Wildlife Conservation Society, a position held since January 2023. As the Founder and Principal of Animal Behavior Consulting of the Chesapeake since March 2012, Leigh Clayton focuses on connecting individuals within the aquarium, pet, and zoo fields through applied behavior analysis. Previous roles include Vice President of Animal Care at both the New England Aquarium (2019-2022) and the National Aquarium (2005-2019), where responsibilities encompassed leadership in animal health and rescue teams. Early career experiences include veterinary internships and residency positions at prestigious institutions such as the Angell Animal Medical Center and Lincoln Park Zoo. Leigh Clayton holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bryn Mawr College, complemented by business education from the University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business.