Lubarski, Maggie

Education

• B.S. in Zoology with a concentration in Zoo & Aquarium Science, Michigan State University, 2013

About

Maggie Lubarski graduated from Michigan State University in 2013 with a B.S. in Zoology with a concentration in Zoo and Aquarium Science. After graduation, Maggie accepted an internship at Potowatomi Zoo in Indiana, where she interned for three months before being offered a temporary job as their full-time dietician. When this position ended, Maggie found an internship at the Ringling Brother’s Center for Elephant Conservation. While working with retired Asian Elephants in a free-contact environment, she learned about elephant research, animal husbandry, and animal welfare. The Ringling Brothers offered Maggie a full-time position as an elephant caregiver in one of the circus’s traveling units when the internship concluded.

She accepted a position at the Dallas Zoo as an elephant keeper in the fall of 2015. Maggie credits MSU for preparing her for the job, with classes such as plant biology. She used knowledge from the class to identify toxic and non-toxic plants when cutting branches to feed elephants. Although it was challenging to move across the country to a Dallas, where she didn’t know anyone, her new coworkers have been welcoming.

Now Maggie has returned to the Potawatomi Zoo as a zookeeper. She attributes her success to hard work, determination, and perseverance.