The staff at Ohio Wildlife Center is a dedicated group of diverse professionals working every day to help people help wildlife. Key staff below lead teams and projects critical to our mission.
Heather began at Ohio Wildlife Center as Executive Director in 2024. She has over twenty years of experience working with wildlife, both in rehabilitation and education roles. In her own words, “Though my titles and job roles have changed over the years, my passion for conservation and community outreach has not. My favorite quote of all time is ‘In the end, we will conserve only what we love, love only what we understand, and understand only what we have been taught.’ This quote perfectly encapsulates the need for ALL of our communities, both animal and human, to be connected as well as our responsibility to build those bridges.”
David joined Ohio Wildlife Center in February of 2021. David earned his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Findlay. David quickly rose to the manager level in 2022. David is our Operations Manager at our Wildlife Hospital.
He began as a volunteer, lending his talents at the hospital and with Lights Out Columbus. David has worked previously within many nonprofits in leadership roles. David was previously with The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Boy Scouts of America where he gained his knowledge in native species. David also worked as a veterinary assistant for multiple years where he added his medical expertise for our hospital.
Jayna started at Ohio Wildlife Center in 2016 as an Otterbein University intern. She was then hired as a camp counselor for Ohio Wildlife Center’s day camp in 2017 and stayed on as a seasonal employee for the Education Department until graduating from Otterbein in 2019 with degrees in Zoo and Conservation Science and Biology.
Jayna worked in the Animal Encounters Village Department at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium before returning to Ohio Wildlife Center in 2020 as a full-time Wildlife Associate for the Education Department. Jayna was most recently promoted to Education Manager in May 2022.
Allison graduated from Otterbein University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Zoo and Conservation Science and Biology. She gained experience as an intern with COSI as well as a camp counselor for multiple different organizations throughout college, including the Ohio Wildlife Center from 2017-2019.
She has played many other roles within the organization including volunteer, intern, seasonal education staff, SCRAM! Service Coordinator, and now Education Program Coordinator. Allison is in charge of overseeing our open to the public events, organizing our summer camps, and caring for our collection of over 60 permanent animal ambassadors. She loves connecting with the public about our native wildlife and changing peoples perspectives about our most misunderstood wild neighbors.
Dr. Marksz is the lead veterinarian for the Wildlife Hospital, joining the staff in 2012. She has a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Miami University. She worked at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo prior to her role at Ohio Wildlife Center. Her special veterinary interests include zoo and wildlife medicine as well as exotic companion animals. Dr. Marksz has veterinary positions at both the Center and at the private practice Animal Care Unlimited in Columbus.
Brittany began her journey with OWC in 2013 while earning a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from The Ohio State University. She volunteered in multiple areas of the organization including education programs, animal ambassador care and training, and hospital animal care before officially joining the team in 2018 as the pre-release coordinator. She’s been a certified wildlife rehabilitator since 2017, and she strives to stay at the forefront of rehab knowledge to provide the best possible care for hospitalized patients. She took on her most recent role as hospital manager in 2024, where she continues to grow as a wildlife rehabilitator.
Holly earned a Bachelor of Science in zoology from The Ohio State University in 2015. Since graduating, she has worked with a variety of animals from dogs in a dog daycare setting, to working at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium caring for both native and exotic species. She joined the Ohio Wildlife Center’s PRF team as a seasonal in 2023 and fell in love sharing her passion by educating new volunteers and interns on the importance of a proper diet and species specific enrichment. She returns full-time as the Pre-Release Facility Coordinator eager to guide our rehabbed animals back to the wild successfully.
Lori joined Ohio Wildlife Center in 2016 and currently is Finance Coordinator. She has worked for numerous nonprofits in Central Ohio providing financial and administrative support, including Columbus Humane, Shelter Outreach Services, Humane Society of Madison County, The Animal Health Organization, First Community Church and Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association. She also provides business services for Aquatic Adventures and Northsteppe Realty.
To learn about contributing to Ohio Wildlife Center, consider making a donation or checking out our volunteer program. Special thanks to Cassandra Swiatek and Chris Brinkman – two photographers who donated their time and talent to capture many of our moments.