In our alumni spotlight series, learn about Harvard graduates' most meaningful experiences from college, and how Harvard impacted their professional and personal paths after graduation.

Hometown & Current City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

House Affiliation: Quincy

Concentration and Secondary Field: Biological Anthropology

Current Job Title/Company or organization: Andrew Baker Curator of Primates & Small Mammals, Philadelphia Zoo; Co-Founder & Project Director, New Nature Foundation

What was your professional path after college? Twofold: Non-profit conservation work with the New Nature Foundation and ex-situ conservation work at US zoos.

What fills your time now? Professionally and otherwise? Following my passion for wildlife conservation in- and ex-situ, and living my dream of working at zoos in Africa.

How did your academic experience at Harvard guide you in your post-grad pursuits? My senior thesis and subsequent post-grad fellowship have opened the door to my life's work in Uganda, now more than 20 years and counting.

What was a favorite class you took and why? Primate Behavioral Biology

Did you have any research/internship opportunities and/or professor/mentor relationships that were influential? Richard Wrangham's guidance and influence was wonderful, and his welcoming my wife Rebecca and I into his research community in Uganda opened so many doors.

What were you involved in extracurricularly? Big Brother program with Phillips Brooks House, and intramural crew.

How did your extracurricular activities impact your Harvard experience? And have they had an impact on your post-grad life? Still friends with my little brother more than 20 years later, I was in his wedding and he in mine, we are like real family at this point.