Profile of an Education Liaison

Terry O'Connor, Principal, Terry O'Connor Consulting
Liaison for the Bat TAG since 1992

How did you get involved as a liaison?

©Chris Doyle

I have never been a "liaison" in title. I attended a TAG meeting at the 1992 annual conference and was asked to join the Bat TAG as a member (we had members back then rather than Institutional Reps). Since that time, I have chaired the Bat TAG's education subcommittee. In 1995, I became co-chair of the Bat TAG and continued in that role until the end of 2005, when I left Woodland Park Zoo. I continue to remain active in the TAG as Education chair and a member of the steering committee. I was the first educator on a TAG or SSP, followed soon thereafter by Lisa Tryon, who joined the Bear TAG.

Describe your professional background.

I began my career at Woodland Park Zoo in 1981, moving on to increasingly responsible positions including Manager of Conservation Education, Interim Education Director, and Education Special Projects Manager. I have 24 years of professional education experience, 16 of which were in leadership of the zoo's Education Department. I have served as member, vice chair and now advisor to the Conservation Education Committee, appointed member of the Board of Regents, and elected member of the Ethics Board, as well as co-chair of the Bat TAG.

I have been both a course developer and co-administrator of the AZA Conservation Education school, and was an instructor for seven years. I am currently an instructor in the AZA Developing an Institutional In situ Conservation Strategy course and I am leading the development of a newly-approved course, Models of Behavior Change. I have a B.S. in Zoology and I currently a candidate for an M.A. in Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Leadership at George Mason University. In 2006 I started my own conservation education consulting business, Terry O'Connor Consulting.

Program accomplishments

The Bat TAG produced bat education kits and curricula for Rodrigues (Rodrigues fruit bats), Madagascar (in collaboration with the Madagascar Fauna Group) and Papua New Guinea (in collaboration with the Tree Kangaroo Conservation program). The Bat TAG is currently working on a resource notebook on bats, to be distributed to AZA zoos. In collaboration with the Rodrigues Fruit Bat SSP, the Bat TAG received funding to hire an environmental educator on Rodrigues in 1998, Rodriguan Mary Jane Raboude. This program is led by the Philadelphia Zoo and is in its eighth year.

Where have you found funding for your program efforts?

We have received grant funds from the AZA Conservation Endowment Fund / Disney Fund, from the Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund at Roger Williams Park Zoo, from Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, and from the Houston Zoo.

What have been your biggest challenges as a liaison?

I work with a TAG that invited me to participate as a member, and then as co-chair. I work with a wonderfully encouraging group who are tremendously dedicated and supportive of education. My biggest challenge has always been my personal frustration that I cannot devote as much time as I would like to Bat TAG education projects-and there is so much to do!

What have been your biggest rewards as a liaison?

My biggest rewards come from working with a superbly talented, dedicated, and supportive team who have education as a top priority. I have had the opportunity to develop bat education programs for Rodrigues, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea. Seeing the images of children enjoying the programs and hearing the stories about people discovering how amazing bats really are is my reward. The other reward for me in this work is seeing how conservation and education are being integrated, and learning about the amazing programs being done by other SSPs, TAGs and CAPs!

What are your goals for the program?

To complete and distribute the educators' notebook, to continue the work with Madagascar, and to create new programs for Zambia and Guam.

Words of Wisdom

Don't take this on alone-get a partner or a team. There is plenty of work to be done. Spend time strategic planning so you can focus your efforts. Be realistic about the time you can work on projects.