Her Story
About Jaclyn
Jaclyn Kurtz is a marine wildlife conservation professional specializing in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, marine mammal care, wildlife research, and conservation education. She currently serves as a Senior 1 Zoological Specialist – Rescue at SeaWorld San Diego, where she continues to specialize in marine animal rescue and rehabilitation along the San Diego coastline. Her current responsibilities and areas of development include oiled wildlife response, entangled whale response, staff mentoring, and safety leadership. She previously worked in SeaWorld's Wild Arctic area with seals, beluga whales, walruses, and rescued sea otters, in addition to progressing through education, zoological attendant, and rescue positions.
Kurtz began developing her career in animal care and conservation in 2013 after completing her undergraduate studies in marine science. She earned a Master of Professional Science in Marine Mammal Science from the University of Miami and completed extensive hands-on training involving marine mammal stranding response, necropsies, field research, animal training, education, and rehabilitation. Her graduate work included a sea otter research and conservation husbandry internship at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she helped care for rehabilitated sea otter pups and researched behavioral milestones. Her work contributed to a more objective framework for documenting behaviors such as diving and tool use. She also gained broad experience through the SPCA for Monterey County, wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary assisting, field response, and sea otter data collection.
Today, Kurtz combines hands-on animal care with research, emergency response, conservation, education, and staff development. She serves as a Large Whale Entanglement Responder with NOAA Fisheries and a Spill Response Volunteer with the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, reflecting her continued commitment to marine wildlife protection. Her career has been shaped by a willingness to embrace new opportunities, including relocating to San Diego during the COVID-19 pandemic and beginning a new chapter at SeaWorld. She emphasizes empathy and approachability in her professional relationships and strives to create an environment where colleagues feel comfortable seeking help and advice. Her broader career philosophy encourages the next generation to remain open to change, pursue volunteer experiences, travel, accept difficult opportunities, and recognize that seemingly temporary experiences can become meaningful steps in a conservation career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jaclyn
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I have learned that opportunities often appear when you are not actively looking for them, and many of the experiences in my career have felt as though they happened for a reason. My advice is not to be afraid to start over or take a completely new path when an opportunity presents itself. Be willing to take those steps, even when they initially feel uncertain.
I also encourage people to travel while they can and to take advantage of volunteer opportunities. Volunteer experience can be extremely valuable, even when the work is physically demanding, involves long or overnight hours, or places you in stressful situations. Those experiences can provide knowledge, relationships, and opportunities that may become meaningful later in your career.
Most importantly, remember that where you are right now is temporary. Be willing to learn, take opportunities as they come, and recognize that a position or experience that may seem small at the time can become an important part of your professional journey.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Empathy for others is one of the most important values I bring to both my professional and personal life. I believe it is important to make yourself approachable as a person. There is a difference between simply being polite and working alongside someone and creating an environment where people genuinely feel comfortable coming to you for help, advice, or support.
Throughout my career, I have been told by colleagues that the atmosphere becomes calmer and more pleasant when I am around, and that people feel they can approach me without judgment. That is something I value deeply. I want people to feel that they have a safe person they can turn to, whether they need professional guidance, advice, or simply someone willing to listen.
For me, empathy, approachability, and creating a judgment-free environment are important parts of being a good colleague, mentor, and member of a team.
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