Rachel Mears

Rachel Mears has extensive experience in animal care and education, currently serving as a Zookeeper at Reid Park Zoological Society since August 2022. Prior to this role, Rachel worked as a Reptile Zookeeper at Out Of Africa Wildlife Park from June 2019 to October 2022, and as a Windsurf Instructor at Eckerd College Waterfront, where responsibilities included teaching and ensuring safety for youth participants. Earlier roles include Field Assistant at Bimini Shark Lab, where Rachel engaged in shark research, and Shift Supervisor at Starbucks, managing staff and operations. Rachel also has experience as a Waitress at Red's Table and as a volunteer at Reston Nature Preserve, focusing on environmental education. Rachel holds a degree in Environmental Studies/Biology with a focus on Herpetology and Zoology from Eckerd College.