Samantha Melber

Samantha Melber is an Outreach Educator at the Nashville Zoo where she shares the stories of ambassador animals in the zoo’s care and teaches children about the connections that bind us with nature.

Sam graduated Cum Laude from Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor of Science in Field Biology in 2019. After graduation, Sam interned in the behavioral husbandry department of the Nashville Zoo and fell in love with educational outreach and animal care. After spending the summer of 2020 in animal rescue and rehabilitation, Sam began her career as an outreach educator for the Nashville Zoo.

Sam’s favorite part of her career is getting to see the wonder on a child’s face when they learn or see something new. She considers her dedication to learning from the living world and sharing that knowledge as a cornerstone of her cultural identity. Sam hopes to inspire and connect with more indigenous professionals in the zoo and aquarium field. She is a certified interpretive guide, PADI open water diver, and mother of two.