Brian & Bert
Ohio Wesleyan Student Nurtures Love for Animals with Columbus Zoo Internship
Name: Brian Harrington '25
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
High School: Dublin Scioto High School
Major: Zoology
Minor: Performing Arts (Music)
OWU Connection Experience: Completing a semester-long zookeeping internship at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, located just 13 miles from the Ohio Wesleyan campus
"Being a Columbus native, I have been visiting the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for my entire life, and it's likely the reason I am so passionate about wildlife today. I was looking for animal care experience at multiple zoos, but Columbus was my top choice due to its significance to me and its close proximity to OWU."
Eye-Opening Experiences
"I learned how to be successful in the zookeeping field, specifically in terms of time management and the level of commitment needed for this type of work. It helped to reaffirm my passion for animal care but also opened my eyes to other animal-related careers, specifically research.
"I was also taking an animal behavior course at the time, and I was able to apply those skills to real-life experiences where I needed to conduct actual behavioral studies of the animals in the department."
'Rain or Shine'
"Zookeeping internships are important for those looking to enter the animal care field because they give you a very real look into what the job is like. I recommend that anyone who is interested in zookeeping complete some sort of internship before going into the field because the workload can be really overwhelming at times. …
"The majority of the daily workload of a zookeeper consists of preparing diets and cleaning habitats, rain or shine. The zookeeping field is also very experience-based, and internships look very good on a resume while searching for animal care jobs."
The OWU Network
Harrington says the connections he has made at Ohio Wesleyan helped him earn his Columbus Zoo internship.
"Dr. (Shala) Hankison acts as OWU's contact with the zoo, and she provided me guidance with scheduling classes around my internship to make sure it worked with my schedule. She also checked in with me throughout my internship to make sure everything was going well, and she was a very helpful part of the experience." (Hankison, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Biological Sciences and a 1995 OWU graduate.)
Ohio Wesleyan alumna Nikki Smith '01 also contributed to Harrington's internship. She is the head curator of the Columbus Zoo's North American region, where Harrington interned.
"She was the person I contacted to receive guidance on finding animal care experiences. Having an OWU alum that I could talk to for advice during my experience made me feel even more comfortable and welcomed during my internship."
I picked out a hanging toy for the male moose, Bert, and seeing him play and knock it around with his antlers all morning was super rewarding. Moments like that really make the job's more difficult parts worth it.
My Favorite Moments
"Anytime I could do something that directly benefited an animal's well-being. My favorite animals to work with were the moose, and I was often assigned to pick out their enrichment items for that day. One day, I picked out a hanging toy for the male moose, Bert, and seeing him play and knock it around with his antlers all morning was super rewarding. Moments like that really make the job's more difficult parts worth it."
Outside the Classroom
"I play the trumpet in three campus ensembles, and I am an active member of the Chi Phi fraternity."
Why I Chose Ohio Wesleyan?
"I was looking for a small school close to home that had a good Zoology program, and OWU fit that description perfectly! When I took my first tour here, I immediately knew this was the school for me. I was also very intrigued by the opportunities provided by the OWU Connection such as this one."
My Plans After Graduation
"I intend to work in animal care for a while after graduation, but I would like to pursue research further down the line. The Career Connection office is helping me perfect my resume and explore the career options that are best suited for me."