Biography
As Director of the Zoo and Conservation Science Program, Dr. Young teaches Introduction to Zoo and Conservation Science, Conservation Biology, Animal Behavior, and leads practicums that occur at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Before attending graduate school she worked at the Phoenix Zoo as a zookeeper, and at Reid Park Zoo as a zoo educator. Dr. Young’s research focuses on vocal learning and social behavior in parrots, in both her aviary of budgerigars and in fieldwork in South Africa on the threatened Cape parrot. She also received an NSF WIDER grant to study the science of teaching and learning in STEM fields, which has resulted in a publication in the prestigious journal Science. Dr. Young has mentored over two dozen students in her research lab on their own projects which range from wildlife rehabilitation trends to giant panda behavior. She is also a member of the Association of Zoo and Aquarium’s Field Conservation Committee.
Areas of Expertise (4)
Zoo
Animal Behavior
Zoo and Conservation Science
STEM Pedagogy
Accomplishments (2)
2015 New Teacher of the Year awardee, Otterbein University (professional)
2015-01-01
2015 New Teacher of the Year awardee, Otterbein University
Professor Gilbert E. Mills Memorial Endowed Faculty Sabbatical Project Award Affiliations (professional)
2018-01-01
Professor Gilbert E. Mills Memorial Endowed Faculty Sabbatical Project Award Affiliations
Education (2)
University of Arizona: B.S. 2002
New Mexico State University: Ph.D 2011
Research Grants (12)
Exploring Vocal Dialects in the Threatened Cape Parrot of South Africa as an Indicator of Taxonomic Distinction
Eppley Foundation for Research $12,020
2017 Eppley Foundation for Research $12,020 Exploring Vocal Dialects in the Threatened Cape Parrot of South Africa as an Indicator of Taxonomic Distinction
Grant-In-Aid of Research
Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology $1,000
2007 Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology Grant-In-Aid of Research $1,000
Opening Doors: A Wider Examination of STEM Teaching and Learning, Culture and Support
NSF WIDER DUE-1347243 (Co-PI) $241,254
2013 – 2015 NSF WIDER DUE-1347243 (Co-PI) $241,254 Opening Doors: A Wider Examination of STEM Teaching and Learning, Culture and Support
2018 Summer Writing Grant, Otterbein University
Otterbein University $1,000
2018 Summer Writing Grant, Otterbein University $1,000
2016 International Faculty Enrichment Grant: Ecology and Conservation in South Africa: Building Educational and Research Opportunities
Otterbein University $12,000
2016 International Faculty Enrichment Grant, Otterbein University $12,000 Ecology and Conservation in South Africa: Building Educational and Research Opportunities
2019 Faculty Scholarship Grant
Otterbein University $2,000
2019 Faculty Scholarship Grant $2,000
2018 International Faculty Enrichment Grant: Conservation Science (Art & Animals) in the United Kingdom
Otterbein University $12,000
2018 International Faculty Enrichment Grant, Otterbein University $12,000 Conservation Science (Art & Animals) in the United Kingdom
Sabbatical Award
Otterbein University $4,947
2018 Sabbatical Award $4,947
2018 Biology and Earth Science Faculty Research Fund
Otterbein University $1,434
2018 Biology and Earth Science Faculty Research Fund $1,434
2018 Faculty Scholarship Grant
Otterbein University $2,000
2018 Faculty Scholarship Grant $2,000
2015 Summer Writing Grant
Otterbein University $1,000
2015 Summer Writing Grant, Otterbein University $1,000
International Faculty Enrichment Grant: Culture, and Modernity in Chengdu, China
Otterbein University $11,820
2013 International Faculty Enrichment Grant, Otterbein University $11,820 Science, Culture, and Modernity in Chengdu, China