The Philadelphia Zoo names its first Black woman president

The Philadelphia Zoo has chosen a new president. She will be the first Black person and the first woman to lead America’s first zoo.

Jo-Elle Mogerman, the director of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park in Missouri since 2019, will take the helm as the zoo’s president and CEO on Oct. 30, Philly officials announced Tuesday. She succeeds current president Vikram Dewan, who announced late last year he was stepping down from his over-16-year tenure. As he promised, Dewan, a popular steward of the zoo, will remain initially to help Mogerman in her transition, a spokesperson said.

Mogerman will become the 15th president in the 164-year history of the Philadelphia Zoo.

“As we launched our national search at the beginning of the year, we embarked on a journey to find the very best person to lead our forward-thinking organization. Dr. Mogerman’s impressive career and accomplishments speak for themselves, but it was her clear commitment to community, animal welfare, staff development, and operational excellence that made her the right fit for our renowned zoo,” said Joanna McNeil Lewis, chair of the zoo’s board of directors.

As director of the Saint Louis WildCare Park, which is set to open in 2027, Mogerman has been leading the planning and development of the 425-acre, $230 million project. Before that, she was vice president of learning and community at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium and served about 14 years in leadership roles at Illinois’ Brookfield Zoo.

“I look forward to leading Philadelphia’s exceptional team to advance the zoo’s mission and further its impact on the region while also contributing to conservation in ways that are meaningful locally, regionally and nationally,” said Mogerman in a statement.

Mogerman, 52, with a background in community outreach and education, said she is looking forward to getting to know Philadelphia and its people, and learn how the zoo can help deepen its relationships with them.

“One of the things I find really fascinating about coming to Philadelphia is really understanding what Philadelphia wants for itself and how the zoo within its mission can fit into that and support that,” she said, in an interview Tuesday.

Raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mogerman was a city girl who loved animals. Her custodian father and keypunch operator mother weren’t college graduates when she was a child — her mother did eventually earn an associate’s degree — but they valued education. Mogerman first thought about becoming a veterinarian. Nature shows then had her contemplating a future as a new Jane Goodall. But she ended up choosing a different way to help animals and people.

“I realized relatively early on when I chose this path of being a zoo aquarium professional, I would likely be one of a few. That’s partly why I went into education rather than being a researcher. Because I recognized that kids related to me, and I also have an obligation to give back. I thought I could be more impactful in my work,” Mogerman said.

“Sometimes people talk about their legacy. My legacy is actually people,” she said. “My legacy is the young people I have had in my programs who have gone on to do important research or gone on to work in zoos and aquariums around the country.”

After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., Mogerman earned a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Now, she, her husband who is a communications professional, and their son, 13, a rising eighth grader and a budding foodie, are looking forward to getting better acquainted with the Philadelphia area.

“I love the energy of a big city,” Mogerman said. “I love the idea of the different neighborhoods. And the food scene — I haven’t had a bad meal yet.”

Mogerman’s colleagues in St. Louis wished her well.

“To say it’s been a privilege to work with Dr. Mogerman is an understatement,” said Dwight Scott, president and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo. “She’s a strategic leader and visionary, a dedicated conservationist and a tremendous project manager and problem solver. While she’ll be missed here in St. Louis, we look forward to partnering with her and her colleagues in Philadelphia.”

Said outgoing Philadelphia Zoo president Dewan: “I am excited to support Jo-Elle as she takes the helm. She will undoubtedly foster a bright future for our zoo.”