Jeremy Gill

Jeremy Gill is the Curator of Education at the Potawatomi Zoo where he works with a team of staff and volunteers towards the mission of connecting zoo guests to animals, nature, and conservation. His team accomplishes this mission through up-close animal encounters, educational classes and camps, or conversations out on zoo grounds. Every day is different, but Jeremy’s favorite part of his job is the human interactions.

Jeremy grew up in Chicago and lived in the heart of the city, where he escaped to the natural world by visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, and Shedd Aquarium. He attended a Catholic high school before studying biology at North Park University in Chicago. Jeremy began his professional experience through a summer position as a Young Naturalist at the Shedd Aquarium before entering college. During college, Jeremy worked as a Camp and Specialty Programs Educator at the Brookfield Zoo. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 2009, Jeremy began working as an Outreach and Special Events Associate at the Brookfield Zoo. In 2012, Jeremy moved to the Lincoln Park Zoo, where he held various positions before becoming the Manager for Volunteer and LPZooU Programs in 2018. In 2020, Jeremy moved to his current position at the Potawatomi Zoo.

Jeremy loves working with people and building human connections, and he has been lucky enough to have great colleagues from various positions that he is still in touch with today. He finds the zoo community very rewarding, but it takes time, energy, and perseverance to land a job- build connections, volunteer, and be willing to work hard to get your first position. Jeremy’s favorite animal is the okapi, the giraffe’s only living relative.