LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (September 15, 2026) – Some careers begin with a carefully plotted destination. Others begin with a pair of hands making enrichment for primates.
For Dr. Jessica Scott, her connection to the Little Rock Zoo began more than two decades ago as a college student volunteering alongside Animal Keepers Karen Caster and Ann Rademacher, creating enrichment for the Zoo’s primates. That early experience sparked an enduring fascination with animals—and a career that would take her from the forests of Madagascar and Nicaragua to the classroom, the research field and the highest levels of organizational leadership.
Now, that journey is bringing her back to the place where it began.
The Little Rock Zoo is delighted to announce that Dr. Jessica Scott has joined the Zoo as its new Assistant Director, bringing a rare combination of scientific expertise, conservation experience, nonprofit leadership and a deep, longstanding connection to the institution.
“Dr. Scott brings together something truly special: a scientist’s curiosity, an educator’s commitment to sharing knowledge, a leader’s ability to build strong organizations and a genuine passion for the animals and mission of the Little Rock Zoo,” said Susan Altrui, Zoo Director. “Her history with the Zoo makes this appointment particularly meaningful. She understands who we are, where we have been and, importantly, what we can become.”
Scott joins the Zoo from the UA Little Rock Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, where she served as associate director and oversaw a multimillion-dollar budget comprising both public and private funds. Her responsibilities included hiring, supervising and mentoring professional staff; mentoring students; directing daily operations; developing and managing public-facing educational programs; guiding accreditation efforts; securing grant funding; and leading sustainability initiatives.
Her academic background is equally distinctive. Scott holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Dynamics and a master’s degree in Biological Anthropology from the University of Arkansas. As an adjunct professor of Anthropology, she teaches courses in primatology, climate change, sustainability and conservation ecology—fields that intersect naturally with the Little Rock Zoo’s commitment to education, conservation and connecting people with wildlife.
Her conservation work has taken her well beyond Arkansas. Scott has worked with the Beza Mahafaly Ring-Tailed Lemur Project in Madagascar and the Ometepe Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua, and she has conducted research in partnership with the Lemur Conservation Foundation. Those experiences have given her a firsthand understanding of the complex relationship among wildlife, ecosystems, communities and conservation.
But perhaps her most important connection to the Zoo is the one that began close to home.
For more than a decade, Scott has been a dedicated Little Rock Zoo volunteer, contributing to event committees for Wild Wines and serving on the board of the Arkansas Zoological Foundation. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXV, a member of Rotary Club 99, and was honored with the 2023 Sustain the Rock Award by the Little Rock Sustainability Commission.
Her path from Zoo volunteer to Assistant Director is more than a professional milestone; it is a reflection of the power of institutions like zoos to inspire lifelong curiosity and purpose.
“What started as volunteering with primates grew into a passion for animals, conservation, education and the work that zoos can do to make a difference,” Scott said. “It is incredibly meaningful to now have the opportunity to contribute to the Little Rock Zoo in this capacity and to help build its future.”
As Assistant Director, Scott will help advance the Zoo’s operations, educational mission, conservation initiatives and long-term strategic goals, drawing on a career that has consistently bridged science and leadership.
Her arrival represents both a homecoming and a new chapter for the Little Rock Zoo—one that brings an accomplished scientist, educator and administrator back to the place where her own story with animals first began.
About the Zoo
The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit aza.org.
For more information on Little Rock Zoo, visit littlerockzoo.com or call 501-661-7200.
