Her Story
About Amanda
Amanda Fabian serves as Senior Director of Conservation Education at the Maryland Zoo, where she leads educational initiatives that connect visitors, students, and communities with wildlife conservation, animal care, and environmental stewardship. With more than two decades of experience in education, Amanda brings together expertise in curriculum development, program development, science education, and conservation communication. Her academic background includes a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education and Biology from Johns Hopkins University and a postgraduate certificate in Marine Biology from James Cook University.
Amanda’s career reflects a longstanding passion for science, animals, and education. She began her professional journey as a science teacher with Baltimore City Public Schools before spending nearly a decade with Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth, where she advanced to Assistant Program Manager. She later served as a MESA STEM Program Specialist with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory before returning to zoo education. After 14 years within the Johns Hopkins system, Amanda joined the Maryland Zoo in 2023, describing the transition as a new adventure and a full-circle opportunity that brought together her interests in education, conservation, and wildlife.
In her leadership role, Amanda is committed to making conservation education accessible and meaningful to everyone. She focuses on helping guests connect conservation concepts to everyday life, from sustainability and recycling to exploring careers in the field, while emphasizing the importance of research, conservation, and education within accredited zoos. Amanda also encourages educators and staff to develop their own strengths and career paths rather than simply following someone else's model. Through her work, she strives to create welcoming learning experiences that inspire people to understand, value, and participate in protecting animals and wild places.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amanda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for conservation education and my commitment to sharing the science and importance behind the Maryland Zoo’s work. My personal interests in baking, traveling, and raising my daughter also keep me inspired, grounded, and continually learning.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to be myself and encourage my staff to grow in their own way rather than trying to be a copy of someone else. My mentors and supervisors taught me the value of authenticity, individuality, and supporting others’ growth.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find your own path, even if it isn’t a straight line, and stay true to yourself. My career journey shifted from marine mammal training to education and eventually back to zoo education, and those experiences taught me to keep going until I found where I belonged.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is making programs accessible and welcoming to everyone while helping guests connect conservation to their everyday lives, from recycling to pursuing careers in the field. It’s also important to ensure that both staff and guests understand the three pillars of AZA-accredited zoos: research, conservation, and education.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are accessibility, inclusion, and a strong commitment to conservation education. I believe in creating welcoming experiences for everyone while helping others understand the importance of protecting wildlife and our natural world.
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