Denise Verret
Denise M. Verret | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Riverside (BA) |
| Occupation | Director of the Los Angeles Zoo |
Denise M. Verret is the director of the
African American director of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited institution.[1][2] She also serves on the board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is a zoo accreditation inspector.[3] She spent 19 years as the Los Angeles Zoo's deputy director before assuming the post of director.[2]
Early life
Verret was born and raised in
Huntington Memorial Hospital.[4] Verret's father was a detective on the force of the Los Angeles Police Department.[4]
Personal life
Verret is married to Anthony Verret. The couple have two children, Lauren and Brian.[4] Verret has lived in Arcadia since 2002.[3]
Education
Verret majored in Administrative Studies at
UC Riverside, graduating in 1988.[4] While still a student, she worked in the university's Office of Early Academic Outreach.[4]
Career
After graduating from the University of California, Riverside, Verret's aunt, who worked for the
Department of Public Works, encouraged her to pursue an internship with the city.[3] Verret hence obtained an internship in the Office of the City Administrative Officer.[3] She continued to work for the city for several decades, encompassing her time spent as deputy director of the Los Angeles Zoo and other posts. As deputy director, Verret oversaw all areas of the zoo's proceedings including finance, information technology, human resources, administration, admission and guest relations, public relations, planning and development, education, and interpretive programs.[5] She directed and developed the zoo’s strategic and vision plans in this time, also managing the organization's business and marketing plans.[5]
Verret was serving as interim zoo director when Los Angeles Mayor
City of Los Angeles.[6]
As zoo director, Verret is charged with overseeing the redesign and redevelopment of the zoo’s 133-acre campus.[8]
References
- ^ a b "Meet the LA Zoo's new director, Denise Verret – Daily News". Los Angeles Daily News. July 7, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "L.A. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMS DENISE M. VERRET AS ZOO DIRECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDENS". Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. June 28, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "New CEO Denise Verret, makes history and charts the Zoo's future". Alive! News. November 4, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Shamout, Omar. "How Denise Verret '88 became the first African American woman to lead a major U.S. zoo". magazine.ucr.edu. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens | L.A. CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMS DENISE M. VERRET AS ZOO DIRECTOR OF THE LOS ANGELES ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDENS". June 28, 2019.
- ^ a b "Council Approves New Director for L.A. Zoo". KFI AM 640. June 28, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ "New zoo exec makes history". Park Labrea News/ Beverly Press. July 5, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- ^ "L.A. City Council Confirms Denise M. Verret as Zoo Director of the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens". July 4, 2019.