Meet Diane Ledder:
Curator and Zoologist for the
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Job Toolbox

Sara: How did you become a zoologist?

Diane: In college, I was an undergraduate biology major, so I studied with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. Then I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian for a while, so I applied to veterinary school, but I didn't get in. I was disappointed at the time, but I turned around and went back to graduate school in marine science and got my master's degree in marine biology.

Now I'm glad that it worked out that way, because this job allows me to do a lot more, and I have a lot more variety than I probably would have had in veterinary practice. I think a veterinary career is a wonderful career, but I'm glad that this has turned out the way it did for me.

I also got hands-on experience. I worked for a vet for a couple of years. And I volunteered for an animal hospital before they hired me. [Volunteering] is just like working -- it gives you good job experience, and people know that if you're serious enough to volunteer, you'll probably make a pretty good employee, too.

I also volunteered to do a job to get into grad school. My professor was studying dolphins and their anatomy. It was a stinky job -- I had to go out in the sand lot and dig up old skulls that had been in the ground, all the flesh would come off of them, and they'd be nice and clean. And I think he did that to weed out the people that are really serious from the people who weren't, because everybody studying marine mammals thought they were going to go out and work with Flipper. So, I think he wanted to give me a dose of reality right away: "Go out there and dig out those stinky skulls, and when you've finished with that, then come back and see me." But I did it, and it worked -- I got into school.

Sara: What kinds of tools do you think girls need to have in their job tool boxes?

Diane: Don't be nervous or in a hurry about choosing something right away. Just follow something you enjoy. Flexibility is good. So is persistence. Sometimes things don't work out exactly the way you planned, but they usually work out for the best if you give it a try.

Aside from putting together the basic academic background, I think a broad background [of study in school] is good. Study science, but get a broad spectrum on the undergraduate level before you specialize.

Be team players. I think "people skills" are the most important thing in any job. You need to have the ability to work successfully with people and relate to people and understand people. That's real important. I know from interviewing people and being interviewed myself that many, many decisions are made on a personality basis.

Think about how well you work with other people and with the team they want you to fit in with. So I think getting experience at playing sports or working on projects with friends, whether it's theater, or anything. Working with people and getting along with them is real important.

Sara: What sorts of tools do you use on your job?

Diane: Computers, international phone calling, faxing, radios, photography. I can drive a truck or pull a trailer out in the field if I have to. It doesn't come into the normal course of activities, but it's helpful. Most of my work is public speaking, using a slide projector, video, calculators.

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