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Q: How are you ensuring a smooth
transition from the former president
and CEO to yourself?

Everyone throughout the organization is very committed
to ensuring a smooth transition. I have been attending a
lot of meetings with staff, trustees, volunteers, government
officials, and other key stakeholders. I’ve been doing a lot
of listening to new ideas, challenges, and opportunities
for continued growth. Our Board of Trustees and my
predecessor, Dr. Strahl, have been wonderfully supportive
and helpful.

Right: Leadership of the Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo is now
in the capable hands of Dr. Michael Adkesson after Stuart D. Strahl, Ph.D., (right)
retired after leading the organization for 18 years.

Dr. Adkesson’s Distinguished CV

Education Teaching Experience
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree with honors • Adjunct clinical professor at the University of Illinois
from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University College of Veterinary Medicine; trained hundreds of
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 veterinary students, interns, and residents
• Clinical internship in medicine and surgery, followed by • Associate researcher at Cayetano Heredia University
residency training in zoological medicine at the Saint Louis in Lima, Peru
Zoo and University of Missouri
• Master’s degree in business administration from the Professional Organizations
University of Illinois, Gies College of Business and Affiliations

Board Certifications • Professional Fellow of the Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (AZA); serves on AZA’s Animal
• Veterinary specialist in zoological medicine by both the Health Committee, and is a veterinary advisor for
American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM) and the Penguin Taxon Advisory Group and Humboldt
the European College of Zoological Medicine (ECZM) Penguin Species Survival Plan®
• Past-president of the American Association of Zoo
Research and Field Work Veterinarians

• Led conservation and research programs in Punta San Juan, • Member of the European Association of Zoo
Peru, since 2007 that focus on Humboldt penguins, fur seals, and Wildlife Veterinarians and International
sea lions, and their ecosystems; programs are supported by Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine
CZS in partnership with other institutions and organizations
in the U.S. and South America
• Authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed
publications and more than 75 abstracts and conference
presentations

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