Jo-Elle Mogerman, Philadelphia Zoo’s president and CEO, previously served as director of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park. Before that, she was the vice president of learning and community at the Shedd Aquarium and spent nearly 14 years in leadership roles at the Brookfield Zoo. As director of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park, which is due to open to the public in 2027, Mogerman was responsible for leading and planning the development of the 425-acre destination close to Saint Louis Zoo.
”Dr Mogerman’s impressive career and accomplishments speak for themselves, but it was her clear commitment to community, animal welfare, staff development, and operational excellence that made her the right fit for our renowned zoo,” said Joanna McNeil Lewis, chair of Philadelphia Zoo’s board of directors.
“I look forward to leading Philadelphia’s exceptional team to advance the zoo’s mission and further its impact on the region while also contributing to conservation in ways that are meaningful locally, regionally and nationally. There’s a lot of amazing work underway at Philadelphia Zoo and together with the community and the zoo team, I am certain we will catapult the nation’s first zoo into a model for zoos of the future,” said Mogerman.
President and CEO of Saint Louis Zoo, Dwight Scott, added: “To say it’s been a privilege to work with Dr Mogerman is an understatement. She’s a strategic leader and visionary, a dedicated conservationist, and a tremendous project manager and problem solver. While she’ll be missed here in Saint Louis, we look forward to partnering with her and her colleagues in Philadelphia.”
Mogerman has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Macalester College, and a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, she has a doctorate in biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.