Jesse has a B.A. in Writing and Literature from Naropa University of Boulder, Colorado. After completing his degree, Jesse went on to work in Human Services for the next five years in an administrative capacity, supervising care for individuals with developmental disabilities. He did so first as a Residential Program Coordinator and then as an Associate Director. Jesse has a love for wild places and wild animals that comes from exploring the hills around Cerrillos, New Mexico in his childhood and continues as an enthusiasm for backpacking, gardening, and reading about issues in conservation and sustainability.

Beth has been an environmental educator since graduating from Ramapo College of New Jersey with an Environmental Studies degree. Her career has included a wide variety of opportunities all across the United States! Some examples are: a season as a Deckhand/Educator on NJ’s official tall ship A. J. Meerwald (though she had never sailed before), caring for and teaching with raptors as a Naturalist Intern at the Sierra Outdoor School in California, and coordinating overnight programs at Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center in Ohio as Program Coordinator. Before joining the New Mexico Wildlife Center team, she was an Assistant Naturalist at the Center for Environmental Education at PNW BOCES in New York for over five years, teaching students in their classrooms or outdoors and caring for ambassador animals including raptors, reptiles and amphibians, and a small mammal. When not caring for or teaching with animals, Beth enjoys exploring new surroundings, singing in choral groups, and mastering the art of reading and walking at the same time so she doesn’t need to put the book down.

Stephanie earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Biology from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She then went on to earn a Master’s of Science in Evolutionary Ecology from Indiana University in Bloomington. While working toward her Master’s, Stephanie began volunteering at WildCare Inc., where she worked as a wildlife rehabilitation and education volunteer before taking on the full-time role of Center Director in January 2019. As WildCare’s Director, Stephanie was responsible for overseeing the rehabilitation of approximately 1,600 patients annually, supervising the care and training of all education ambassador animals, and managing a large team of volunteers and staff. She has worked with a wide variety of North American wildlife, but she has a special affinity for under-appreciated species like opossums and vultures. Stephanie moved to New Mexico in summer 2021, working with Wildlife Rescue Inc. of New Mexico in Albuquerque before joining the New Mexico Wildlife Center team in April 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with her extremely fluffy cat and extremely loud lovebird, playing video games, and trying new recipes.

Avery started working in wildlife rehabilitation in high school in their home state of Oklahoma and hasn’t stopped since! They attended veterinary school at Tufts University, where they learned much more about wildlife medicine from the Tufts Wildlife Clinic. After vet school, Avery became the first staff vet at a rehab center in California and then Nebraska before coming to NMWC. Avery’s areas of particular interest include wildlife ophthalmology, avian orthopedics, and baby bird identification. They have appreciated the opportunity to experience wildlife rehab and biodiversity in various places across the country. Avery is very happy to be a part of the NMWC team and to help build upon and expand the possibilities for medical care and the future of NMWC.