Haylee B – Associate Director of Education
Haylee holds a degree in Animal Science and Management and found her calling in humane education, where she combines her love for animals with a passion for teaching compassion. She enjoys connecting people with animals, including the “unhuggables” like sharks, snakes, and cockroaches, which she has been doing in the Humane Education department since 2011. Haylee shares her home with two cats and has experience with a wide range of animals. In her free time, she creates digital art, reads, plays video games, and explores nature.
Omari M – Education Manager
Omari’s passion for animals and art inspired his journey into wildlife conservation and creative design. With a background in Wildlife Conservation & Management and an MFA in Media Design, he blends his expertise in nature and creativity. Omari’s experience spans animal care, education, and research, and he enjoys sharing his love for wildlife with others. Outside of work, he stays active with sports, painting, video games, and hiking alongside his three lively Jack Russells, Daniel, Zubee, and Josie.
Kelly R – Animal Care Assistant Manager
Kelly holds a degree in Film, Television, and New Media Production, with a minor in Theatre. Her passion for the arts and love for animals inspired her to pursue a career in humane education. With experience caring for a variety of animals—including dogs, cats, horses, and more—she also enjoys horseback riding and carriage driving in shows and parades. In her free time, Kelly writes, draws, hikes, and spends time with her family.
Christina J – Education Supervisor
Christina’s love for animals began with family trips to local zoos, inspiring her to pursue a career in wildlife education. Her passion for working with animals evolved from dreams of becoming a vet to aspiring to be a zookeeper. She holds a degree in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution and joined the Education Department as a camp instructor in 2016. Christina enjoys sharing her knowledge and working with our animal ambassadors. In her free time, she spends time hiking with her Pomeranian.
Averi N – Camp Lead
Averi holds a BS in Kinesiology from SDSU and has two years of marketing experience. Her background includes working as an executive assistant and volunteering at summer camps with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Averi loves animals and has also worked at aquarium camps. She enjoys being outdoors, practicing yoga and acro yoga, as well as Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, and art.
Sharilyn P – Customer Service Rep
Sharilyn has a passion for animal welfare, having helped find qualified homes for various animals, including dogs, cats, chickens, goats, and more. She has also worked in IT and taught at a university. Sharilyn holds a degree in Business Administration and an MBA. In her spare time, she enjoys choral singing, yoga, gardening, fostering dogs, and hiking with her husband and their dog, Bella.
Caitlin C – Camp Lead
Caitlin has a longstanding connection with Helen Woodward Animal Center, where she first volunteered as a teenager. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Media Arts and Sciences, with a focus on creating educational content that promotes humane and sustainable living. Now back at Helen Woodward Animal Center, Caitlin is grateful to work with the animal ambassadors and dedicated team. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and watching movies. She recently adopted a cat named Beast Boy.
Charles B – Instructor
Charles holds a Culinary Arts degree from the French Culinary Institute and has been dedicated to teaching outdoor education since 2009, specializing in wilderness survival, wildlife tracking, herbalism, and backpacking. He is passionate about fostering a love for nature in children. Outside of his work, Charles enjoys hiking, animal tracking, reading, exploring culinary creativity, and playing guitar.
Andrew P – Animal Caregiver
Andrew is pursuing his degree in automotive and American Sign Language programs. With experience at pet stores and running a mobile detailing business, he found Helen Woodward to be a great fit. Outside of work, Andrew is building a racecar Nissan 350z and enjoys drawing. He loves spending time with his dog, Chicken, and his tarantula, Rumsplikit.
Rylie W – Instructor
Rylie holds a degree in Marine biology and has enjoyed working at aquariums. She has experience with after-school programs and continues to volunteer at an aquarium in her spare time. She enjoys staying active, spending time at the beach, and overall has a passion for aquatic life. Growing up with dogs and riding horses, she loves being outdoors and has recently started enjoying cooking.
Julia M – Animal Caregiver
Julia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability and is excited to be part of the team at Helen Woodward, where she cares for the animal ambassadors. Before joining the Center, she worked in education and cared for exotic birds at a local sanctuary. Outside of work, Julia enjoys snorkeling, hiking, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and walking her senior dachshund mix in the park.
Annie D. - On Call Instructor
Annie is pursuing a degree in History and comes from a family of teachers, which sparked her passion for working with kids. Her love for animals began early, helping her mom care for horses and teach riding lessons. These experiences taught her the importance of building strong bonds with animals and enjoys teaching about wildlife.
Morgan N. - On Call Instructor
Morgan is currently studying Agriculture Education with an emphasis in Animal Science. Growing up involved in 4-H and FFA, she has always been around a variety of animals and has developed a deep passion for them. Morgan enjoys sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with the Center’s visitors.
Taylor C – On Call Instructor
Taylor has a degree in Elementary Education and gained experience teaching core subjects and studying child development and classroom management. She’s been with the Center since 2019, starting as a volunteer and later working as a Critter Camp Instructor. Taylor combines her love for education and wildlife while gaining experience with children and exotic animals. A fun fact about Taylor is that she was named after a president!
Sollie C – On Call Instructor
Sollie holds a B.S. in Psychobiology and is pursuing an MA in Biology. She’s passionate about animals and conservation, especially marine life and exotic species. Sollie has worked at an animal hospital and aims to become an exotic vet. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, surfing, hiking, snorkeling, and snowboarding. She loves spending time with her cat, Opai, and kingsnake, Alaska. Sollie is also a dedicated advocate for shark conservation and a go-to expert on sharks at the Center.
Ava B – On Call Instructor
Ava enjoy riding horses, reading, and hanging out with her family. She plans on pursuing veterinary medicine in the future and one fun fact about her is that she has 14 pets!
Cali M – On Call Instructor
Cali holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and has a passion for working with children and animals. She has experience as a behavioral therapist for children with special needs and loves being part of the education department at Helen Woodward Animal Center, where she teaches kids about animal ambassadors. Outside of work, Cali enjoys camping, making art, and exploring her neighborhood in North Park.
Sabrina L – On Call Instructor
Sabrina originally majored in Wildlife but switched to Education after discovering her passion for teaching. She has worked with animal rescues and museums. Sabrina loves working with kids and is excited to combine her passion for animals and teaching. She aims to inspire children to care for and protect animals. Outside of work, Sabrina enjoys hiking, exploring, having picnics, and visiting museums.
Kaitlyn I – On Call Instructor
Kaitlyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a teaching credential. She’s passionate about animals and enjoys teaching kids the importance of compassion toward all living beings. A lifelong learner, Kaitlyn embraces every opportunity to learn something new. Outside of work, she enjoys watching movies and playing video games with her partner, as well as spending time with her bearded dragon, Gene.
Faith G. - On Call Instructor
Faith is pursuing a major in Psychology with minors in Marketing and Leadership. Her experience as a babysitter sparked her passion for working with kids, while growing up around family horses, dogs, and a parrot fostered her love for animals. Faith finds joy in seeing the happiness of the animals at the Center, especially the horses. Outside of work, she enjoys rugby, beach days, painting, and photography.
