Leanne White
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Jacksonville, FL USA
"Somebody took a chance on me and I’ll never forget that."
Career Roadmap
Leanne's work combines: Environment & Nature, Education, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When I first wanted to apply for an education curator position at a zoo, my future husband talked me out of it. He thought that because I already had a well-paying job in computers, I should just stay where I was. I took his advice and someone else got the position. However, he eventually saw how passionate I was about animals and nature. When the education curator position opened up again, he encouraged me to go for it—he knew this is where I wanted to be. I got the job and never looked back!
Here's the path I took:
High School
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I grew up in San Joaquin County, California.
2.
I spent a lot of time in nature as a child and knew that I eventually wanted to go into a career that involved the outdoors.
3.
My goal was to work at a marine mammal rehabilitation center but that was put on hold when my family moved to South Carolina.
4.
I went into college studying biology but was swept up in the computer industry—I got a job as a project manager at a computer company and never ended up finishing my biology degree.
5.
Even though my background was now in technology, I still had a strong desire to work outdoors with animals, so I started volunteering at the Greenville Zoo.
6.
When the education curator position opened up, I decided to go for it.
7.
I worked as the education curator at Greenville Zoo for 13 years before moving on to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, where I currently work as director of education.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
You shouldn't apply for that position. You already have a good job—just stay where you are.
How I responded:
When I first wanted to apply for an education curator position at a zoo, my future husband talked me out of it. He thought that because I already had a well-paying job in computers, I should just stay where I was. I took his advice and someone else got the position. However, he eventually saw how passionate I was about animals and nature. When the education curator position opened up again, he encouraged me to go for it—he knew this is where I wanted to be. I got the job and never looked back!