Megan joined The Marine Mammal Center as the Animal Care Manager at Ke Kai Ola in 2018. She manages husbandry care for endangered Hawaiian monk seal patients and oversees the Animal Care volunteer force. She has served as medical support in field work efforts with the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program at NOAA, including a trip on the biannual research cruise to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Moving into her current role, she has absorbed management of the Center’s Response Program on Hawai‘i Island, which aims to keep the public and seals safe through community involvement and outreach efforts.
Prior to her time at the Center, Megan worked in marine mammal husbandry and rehabilitation with a variety of species, including pinnipeds, cetaceans, and penguins. During that 12-year period, she was able to grow her mentorship skills and knowledge of marine mammal husbandry and care. She is grateful to have had so many opportunities to focus on her passion for physical and mental wellness of animals under human care.
Megan is a Registered Veterinary Technician and received her bachelor’s degrees in biology and psychology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She resides in Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i, with her husband and her poi dog, Noodle. She loves cooking and everything ocean-related (and tries to scuba dive as often as she can!).
Areas of Expertise
- Wildlife Husbandry and Veterinary Care
- Animal Behavior and Enrichment
- Operational Management
- Ocean Conservation
- Volunteer Management [citation]