Our Staff

The Animal Embassy staff is a small tight knit group of caring, compassionate professionals. We have a strong commitment to education, the community, wildlife and the environment .

	Chris Evers, Director & Founder Chris Evers, the Director and Founder of Animal Embassy, is a naturalist specializing in wildlife conservation and environmental education. In 2002, Chris founded Animal Embassy, dedicated to exotic animal rescue/adoption and environmental education. Chris brings over twenty years of experience teaching children, working with nature centers and nonprofit environmental organizations, and developing educational programming. Chris has rescued or adopted more than 500 exotic animals over the years and currently maintains over 100 non-releasable animals in educational exhibits. He has traveled extensively in the United States, Africa, India, and Central America to photograph and study some of the most critically endangered animals. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. He has experience working with raptors, big cats, bears, wolves, crocodilians and venomous snakes.
	Robin Minerd, Animal Care & Education Specialist Robin Minerd is our Animal Care & Education Specialist. Robin assists with daily management of our public exhibit and discovery studios, teaches Animal Embassy programs and helps to care for our collection of rescued and adopted animals. Robin has studied Environmental Science and has experience working as a naturalist, and environmental educator. While living in Colorado, Robin worked with the rescue of wolves and wolf-dog crosses being kept as pets. Prior to being hired with Animal Embassy, Robin served as the Assistant Director of the Weinberg Nature Center. Her dedication to animal welfare and proper husbandry is exemplary and she is a wonderful addition to the Animal Embassy team.
	Brittany Murphy, Animal Care & Education Assistant Brittany Murphy is charged with caring for a diverse group of animals, conducting educational tours in our public exhibit and assisting with our outreach programming. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Loyola University in Maryland. While in school, Brittany interned with The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and was responsible for the husbandry of approximately 70 animals, including reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds used in the zoo’s education programs. Brittany later worked as an animal care technician at a local kennel and as an educator with The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk before joining Animal Embassy. She has volunteered for a number of local organizations in pursuit of a deeper understanding of wildlife and conservation issues and continues to do so, assisting facilities with animal care as she dedicates her time to improving the lives of wildlife in need. Brittany’s devotion to our Animal Ambassadors as well as to our mission serves to strengthen Animal Embassy.
	Keith Turcios, Animal Care & Education Assistant Keith Turcios assists with our outreach programming, carries out a variety of responsibilities in caring for our diverse group of animals and conducts educational tours in our public exhibit. Keith has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Sciences from the University of Connecticut. Keith has devoted himself to working with animals for a number of years and has gained invaluable experience during an internship with The Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT, working in both the Rainforest and Predator divisions as well as in the veterinary clinic. He has also volunteered for Earthplace in Westport, CT before joining Animal Embassy and continues to do so in his free time. Keith’s enthusiasm for educating children - and people of all ages - about wildlife, the environment, and diversity, is a true asset to Animal Embassy.
	Jillian Dutson, Animal Care Assistant Jillian Dutson is an Animal Care Assistant and has been with Animal Embassy for three years. She plays a valuable role in caring for our diverse animals and does a wonderful job of interacting with the public. Jillian has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science. She has a full time job as a veterinary technician at an integrative practice in New York State. The practice combines holistic and Western medicine and specializes in alternative cancer treatment for animals. From a young age, Jillian worked with animals. She attended an agricultural high school in Woodbury, CT, specializing in Veterinary Science and Equine (horse) Management. During her college studies, Jillian interned and volunteered with the Wolf Conservation Center for six years. She went on to work at the University of New England’s Marine Rehabilitation Center, dedicated to the rehabilitation and rescue of seals, porpoises and Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles.
	Jennifer Balbes, Administrative Manager Jennifer Balbes is our Administrative Manager. She handles many aspects of the office management including program scheduling, animal adoption requests and development. Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs/Intercultural Understanding and a master’s degree in Tourism Administration. After moving from a career in the travel industry to non-profit administration, Jennifer came to know Animal Embassy through her work with a local nature center. We welcome her interest and enthusiasm with regards to the promotion of environmental education and understanding of diversity through wildlife.
	Genevieve Lawson, Billing Manager Genevieve Lawson is our billing manager and bookkeeper. She handles our invoicing and many other accounting duties. In addition to her business management background, Genny has an affinity for animals of all kinds. In addition to her valuable contribution to Animal Embassy, she is the registrar for the Wolf Conservation Center, in South Salem, NY.
	Miguel Barreto, Consultant Miguel designed and created the Animal Embassy website. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the Pontifical University Javeriana in Colombia, a certificate in social and environmental conflict management from the University of Peace (UN) in Costa Rica, and a master’s degree in Internet Business Systems from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY. Miguel has over fifteen years of experience working with environmental and multicultural related non-profit organizations, both in the U.S. and abroad. He works full time for Creative Connections of Norwalk, and is dedicated to the environment and fostering appreciation for cultural diversity through education.