Staff

Connor (he/him) grew up in Southwest Florida, where he spent most of his childhood outdoors, exploring nature parks and preserves. From a young age, he knew he wanted to pursue a career working with wildlife. During college, he started volunteering at a local zoo and quickly moved into a zookeeper position in the carnivore department. Connor dedicated his time at the zoo to teaching the public about the animals he worked with and ways to support conservation efforts in the wild. After five years in the zoo field, Connor decided he wanted a more direct role in helping local, native wildlife. In September 2020, he joined the Wildlife Center as part of the front-desk team, where he helped the public resolve wildlife issues and coordinated the intake and release of patients. After a year at the front desk, Connor worked in several other roles in the outreach department, and now serves as the Director of Outreach. He greatly enjoys sharing the Center's work with the public and making lasting connections with members of the community. When not at work, Connor likes to spend his free time reading, swimming, and exploring hiking trails with his two dogs.

Haley grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and has always had a passion for working with animals. In between school and sports, you could usually find her working at a local animal hospital. While in college, Haley interned at American Eagle Foundation (AEF) and fell in love working with raptors. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2020 with a B.S. in Animal Science, she went on to work as an avian care specialist for three years at AEF. Feeling the pull to be closer to home and still work with wildlife, Haley was thrilled to accept a position at the Wildlife Center. When not working, you can usually find her reading, hiking, or baking.

Alison (she/her) was raised in Northern Virginia and developed a fascination with wildlife and the natural world from an early age. This interest inspired her to earn her Bachelor of Science in Environmental & Conservation Biology from George Mason University in 2022. During her undergraduate studies, Alison interned and then volunteered with a local songbird rehabilitator, solidifying her passion for working hands-on with wildlife. She also spent a year at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA, learning from conservation professionals and researching endangered species behavior. After college, Alison explored zoo animal welfare and behavior, but eventually discovered her love for connecting people with their local ecosystems. In 2024, this led her to the Wildlife Center, where she presents environmental education programs and helps to train the Center’s non-releasable animal ambassador team. In her free time, Alison loves to cook, play video games, hike, swim, and spend time with her fiancé, Sean, and her cats, Creature and Nargacuga.

Sarah (she/her) grew up in Wisconsin surrounded by woods and wildlife. As a free-ranging child, she would wander through the nearby forests endlessly chasing squirrels and anything else she could find. Her parents would take her and her younger brother on frequent trips to a wildlife sanctuary, which nurtured her love of the world of wildlife. Sarah moved to Virginia in 2016 and after a few years found herself working at the front desk of her local SPCA. Although she loved helping cats and dogs, her true interest remained with wildlife, and she now works at the front desk for the Wildlife Center of Virginia. When not at work, Sarah spends time with her husband and two young boys doing whatever fits the day’s mood.

Jonah (he/him) spent the formative years of his life living in a variety of locations throughout the American East Coast. He spent the first years of his life in Brooklyn, New York, before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia, where he spent his teenage years. As a young adult, he spent time attending school in Williamsburg, VA and Middletown, CT where he received a BA in Psychology. After college, he spent three years living and working in the Catskills Mountains of New York State, where he taught environmental education at Frost Valley YMCA. During that time, Jonah facilitated outdoor experiences for New York City and Suburban New Jersey youths while also teaching them about the native wildlife of the East Coast. He also helped co-manage a very small education raptor center that was part of the Frost Valley Environmental Education Center. He later moved to Charlottesville and was hired to work at the front desk of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. He loves birds (particularly owls) and enjoys advocating for animals and answering wildlife questions for the public. When not at work, Jonah likes to spend time birding, reading comic books, watching good movies, and eating tacos.

Ashley grew up in Stuarts Draft, where she spent her childhood exploring wide-open spaces in search of animals. Although she had a deep love of wildlife early on, a career working with animals wasn’t initially on her radar. She earned a teaching degree (which she never used), spent seven years in behavior analysis, and then followed an adventurous streak—serving as a crew member on a tall ship for a year and later working as a tour guide and spelunker at Grand Caverns in Grottoes.

In March 2025, Ashley joined the Wildlife Center, a move that friends and family immediately affirmed with, "That makes sense for you." She currently lives back in Stuarts Draft with her four cats, a beagle, chickens, and two snakes.