JENNIE JANSSEN
Aquatic Animal Care Consultant
Jennie Janssen is an experienced aquarist of more than two decades. She has worked and led teams at Tennessee Aquarium, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Georgia Aquarium, and the National Aquarium. She is also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH).
Jennie has co-founded numerous organizations, conferences, and resources that have served to advance the field. She is the President, Co-Founder, and Managing Director of Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Science (MIAZS), a non-profit 501(c)3 whose mission is to advance aquarium and zoo science by diversifying the people and perspectives within the field. She is a co-creator of the Kraken Curriculum, the POSea Conference, and the Jelly Camp conference. She leads the International Census of Chondrichthyans in Human Care (aka the Chondro Census) and is a member of RAW, Inc's inaugural Board of Directors. Jennie has also served AZA as the Vice Chair of their Professional Development Committee.
Jennie's impact within the aquarium and zoo field has been recognized and highlighted. She has twice been named in the Blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List (2022, 2023) and highlighted in The Power 10 (2022). She was named a Baltimore GameChanger by Baltimore Magazine (2024), and she is a Baltimore Homecoming's Homecoming Hero (2025). Jennie has also been selected as Tessere's Emerging Professional Troublemaker of the Year (2025).
Jennie created Jelly Janssen in 2026 to serve the aquarium and zoo field. Through this company, Jennie is able to offer her expertise, experience, and leadership to individuals, teams, and organizations who looking to enhance and elevate their aquatic animal care. Jelly Janssen, LLC offers speaking engagements, workshops, gear design, jellyfish collection, and more.
Learn More About Jennie
Professional Experience
Managing Director (Mar 2026 - Present)
Co-Founder & President (Apr 2021 - Present)
Minorities in Aquarium & Zoo Science (www.miazs.org) Crownsville, MD •One of two co-founders of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to advance aquarium and zoo science by diversifying the individuals and perspectives within those fields. •Leads Board of Directors in all initiatives, countering the financial and social barriers that disproportionately prevent racial and ethnic minorities from entering and flourishing in these careers.
Co-Creator and Administrator (Oct 2021 - Present)
Kraken Curriculum (https://www.animalprofessional.com/kraken-curriculum.html ) Remote Curriculum provides high accessibility training for aquatic animal care professionals at all levels, utilizing the expertise of aquatic animal care professionals from across the industry, that grows and evolves with the industry. •Created and launched the curriculum. Curates content, creates quizzes, processes certificates, and collaborates with conference organizers on content development. •One of two co-founders of an award winning online professional development curriculum for aquatic animal care professionals in partnership with AnimalProfessional.com. The Kraken Curriculum has received: Best of Session (Aquarium and Zoo Science) and Best of Conference at the 2022 POSea Conference, and Best of RAW at the 2022 Regional Aquatics Workshop.
Assistant Curator of Blue Wonders (Mar 2017 - Mar 2026)
Manager of Changing Exhibits (Oct 2012 - Mar 2017)
National Aquarium, Animal Care and Welfare -- Blue Wonders Baltimore, MD In this expanding role from 3 to 5 to 8 to 16 direct reports, basic duties include management of animal care, live food culture, exhibit and life support operations, animal acquisitions, budget, payroll, recruitment, staff mentoring and development, and consulting on biological, mechanical, electrical, and life support aspects of new exhibits. •Manages all Blue Wonders exhibits and their corresponding holding systems, the National Aquarium Culture Lab, and the corresponding teams of aquarists. •Led the National Aquarium’s team in hosting B’MORE RAW – the 2025 meeting of the Regional Aquatics Workshop, April 22-26: ~400 attendees from 14 countries, including 40 US States and the District of Columbia, at the premier annual conference of aquatic animal care professionals from public aquariums and zoos. (https://www.regionalaquaticsworkshop.org/post/past-raw-conferences) •Created and launched Jelly Camp 2023: a novel conference concept bringing 65 international jelly husbandry and research professionals together to promote collaboration between these groups with highly complementary expertise. Co-hosted in Baltimore, MD by the National Aquarium and Smithsonian NMNH, October 7-9, 2023. •Created and maintains the Animal Care & Welfare (ACW) department’s On-Boarding Manual and the ACW Manager’s Guide. •Marine Operations Crew – First Mate & Deck Boss. •Member of the National Aquarium’s Inclusion Ambassadors and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Working Group. •Institutional Representative for Zebra Sharks, Stegostoma tigrinum, to the AZA Marine Fishes Taxon Advisory Group (MFTAG). •Leads the AZA Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Sharks & Rays International Census of Chondrichthyans in Human Care (aka the Chondro Census). •Served as husbandry project and gallery manager for the development, construction, opening and stabilization of a new interactive gallery Living Seashore, March 2013 – March 2016; Grand opening: May 12, 2015. Living Seashore received: The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ 2016 Exhibit Award, Top Honors, and The American Alliance of Museums’ 2016 Excellence in Exhibition Award for Special Achievement, Engagement With Living Collection. *Personally received the National Aquarium’s Outstanding Octopus Award for her work opening this gallery. •Given 22 presentations at professional conferences, participated in 16 panels, and published 3 journal articles and 1 book chapter during this time. •Received the National Aquarium’s premier employee service award – the Frank A. Gunther, Jr. Community Service Award – in 2022.
Senior Aquarist, Tropical Dive Gallery (Oct 2009 - Sep 2012)
Senior Aquarist, Ocean Voyager Gallery (Apr 2005 - Oct 2009)
Georgia Aquarium, Husbandry -- Fish & Invertebrates Atlanta, GA •¬¬Participated in all aspects of opening and maintaining one of the aquarium’s marquis exhibits, Ocean Voyager, and its inhabitants including whale sharks, manta rays, great hammerheads, and a variety of sawfish, guitarfish, benthic rays, and teleost. Duties included animal transport, acclimation, quarantine, feeding, behavioral conditioning, routine physicals, medical care, exhibit maintenance, SCUBA and surface supply diving, scooter diving, and records keeping development. •Provided daily care for a variety of fish and invertebrate exhibits in the Tropical Diver gallery and Education Loop, with an emphasis on jellies. Mentored gallery team members, and trained husbandry and dive volunteers in their tasks and responsibilities in caring for the exhibits and animal collection. •Served as Internship Coordinator: Scheduled all Fish & Invertebrates internships, coordinated the team of mentors during the recruitment and selection phase, and coordinated the cross-training program with other departments. •Served as one of two Tracks Administrators for the Fish & Invertebrates team for the digital records keeping program, Tracks, trained staff on the program’s use/features and assisted with troubleshooting.
Aquarist / Animal Health Records Manager (Jun 2002 - Apr 2005)
Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Husbandry Gatlinburg, TN •¬¬Provided daily care for the aquarium’s collection of fish, invertebrates, herptiles and their associated exhibits. •Duties included animal transport, quarantine, feeding, behavioral observations, routine physicals, medical care, exhibit maintenance via SCUBA, maintaining life support systems, water quality testing and records keeping. •Maintained the aquarium’s animal inventory and health records system.
Teaching Assistant and Lab Coordinator (Aug 1999 - July 2022)
Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI •Scientific Inquiry Lab: Designed, edited, prepped, instructed, and graded labs for a non-science majors’ science requisite. Coordinated 4 lab TAs for 4 lab sections and served as grade keeper. Received the 2001 DeHaan Work Excellence Award Scholarship for my work with this class. •Genetics: Prepped, instructed, and graded labs for an undergraduate Genetics course.
Laboratory Assistant (Jan 1999 - May 1999)
Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN •Cell and Molecular Biology: Prepped, assisted, and graded labs for an undergraduate Cell and Molecular course
Field Work & Research
R/V Nani Marine Operations Crew – Shark fishing (Jul - Aug 2024)
Various Organizations Delaware Bay, DE Tag and release of sharks by long-line, collect morphometric data and samples for a variety of research projects. Potential collection of permitted sharks and/or rays sharks for display. Deck Boss (Lead on fishing operations and safety)July & August 2023 & 2024 July 2022 National Aquarium, North Carolina Aquariums First mate (2nd in command to the captain on boat operations)July & August 2021 National Aquarium, SEZARC, Georgia Aquarium, University of Delaware, North Carolina Aquariums First mate (2nd in command to the captain on boat operations)July & August 2019
R/V Nani Marine Operations Safety Support, First Mate – Baltimore Floatilla (Jun 2023)
National Aquarium, Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Baltimore Bay, MD •Annual 5-mile paddle and rally for clean water in Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor.
R/V Spartina Marine Operations Support, First Mate – BioBlitz (Sep 2022)
National Aquarium Masonville Cove, MD •Annual biodiversity count in an urban wetland in coordination with local teachers and volunteers.
R/V Nani Marine Operations Support– BioBlitz (Jun 2018)
National Aquarium Masonville Cove, MD •Annual biodiversity count in an urban wetland in coordination with local teachers and volunteers.
Research & Development Field Aquarist – Sexual coral reproduction (Aug 2015, 2016, 2017)
National Aquarium, SECORE, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Xcaret Park Quintana Roo, Mexico •Participated in field laboratory and dive operations at UNAM’s coral lab and Xcaret Park, collecting gametes of Acropora palmata during the annual mass spawning event for ex situ fertilization, larval settlement and out-planting of juvenile recruits. Efforts centered on developing low-cost larval rearing apparatus conducive to large-scale, remote deployment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqRAvUp89z4 •Presented lectures on kreisel and pool design and operation and whale shark husbandry.
R/V Carcharhinus Marine Operations Safety Support, First Mate – Baltimore Floatilla (Jun 2017)
National Aquarium, Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Baltimore Harbor, MD •Annual 5-mile paddling event in Baltimore’s iconic Inner Harbor.
Field Biologist – Shark tagging (Sep 2016)
National Aquarium, University of Delaware, SEZARC Delaware Bay, DE •Tag and release of sharks by long-line, collecting morphometric data.
Field Aquarist – Manta acquisitions (Jun 2010, 2011)
Georgia Aquarium, Georgia Institute of Technology, Environmental Protection Agency Florida Keys NMS •Participated in NITROX dive operations on the EPA’s Ocean Survey Vessel Bold, collecting data and tissue samples of sun cup coral (Tubastraea sp.) to determine geographical and genetic distribution of the invasive coral.
Scientific Diver in Training – Invasive coral survey (Dec 2008, Apr 2011)
Georgia Aquarium, Georgia Institute of Technology, Environmental Protection Agency Florida Keys NMS •Participated in NITROX dive operations on the EPA’s Ocean Survey Vessel Bold, collecting data and tissue samples of sun cup coral (Tubastraea sp.) to determine geographical and genetic distribution of the invasive coral.
Research & Development Field Aquarist (Jun 2008)
Georgia Aquarium, Fred Fan Aquatics Hualien, Taiwan •Acclimated, cared for, and quarantined wild-caught devil rays (Mobula sp.), sharptail mola (Masturus sp.), bowmouth guitarfish (Rhina ancylostoma), and spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari). Conducted mock transports of Masturus and Mobula, and trained Mobula in target feeding.
Field Aquarist – Whale shark acquisitions (Apr 2006)
Georgia Aquarium Hualien, Taiwan •Observed and trained a whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in target feeding in an offshore sea pen prior to transport.
Field Assistant – Sand tiger shark research (May 2004)
Ripley’s Aquariums, New York Aquarium Myrtle Beach, SC •Caught adult sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) via long-line and attached satellite or NMFS tags.
Research Diver – Sea cucumber research (Summer 2001)
Walla Walla College Marine Station Rosario Beach, WA •Located, Floy-tagged, and tracked the movements of sea cucumbers in the Strait of Juan de Fuca via SCUBA.
Field Assistant – Sampling smooth dogfish (Jul 2000)
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Martha’s Vineyard, MA •Caught smooth dogfish via long-line, and preserved tissue samples.
Field Assistant – Lemon shark research (Jun 1995)
Bimini Biological Field Station, RSMAS, University of Miami South Bimini, Bahamas •Captured juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) in gill nets, transported animals to an offshore holding pen, and collected data and genetic samples for an aging and growth study.
Research Intern – Shark parasitology (1995-1999)
Southeast Aquatic Research Institute, Tennessee Aquarium Chattanooga, TN •Studied parasitic copepods of sharks by light and electron microscopy, catalogued and stored preserved specimens, analyzed data, and presented research at professional society meetings.
Publications
Janssen, J. D.
Diversifying Aquatic Husbandry: Creating a Wake of Equity and Inclusion. Journal of Museum Education
2024, 49(3), 296–305. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2024.2386486
Anderson, E. A., Kottyan, A., Claus, E. S., Fitzpatrick, L., & Janssen, J. D.
In Memoriam: Alan David Henningsen (24 December 1959-29 July 2021).
Drum and Croaker, 2024, v. 55, p. 48-68. http://drumandcroaker.org/pdf/2024v2.pdf
Ames, C. L.*, Klompen, A. M. L., Badhiwala, K., Muffett, K., Reft, A. J., Kumar, M., Janssen, J. D., Schultzhaus, J. N., Field, L. D., Muroski, M. E., Bezio, N., Robinson, J. T., Leary, D. H., Cartwright, P., Collins, A. G. & Vora, G. J.
Cassiosomes are stinging-cell structures in the mucus of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana
Communications Biology 3, 67 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-0777-8 *Ames, C.L. received an NRC/ASEE Postdoctoral Research Publication Award in 2021 for this work
Janssen, J. D., Kidd, A., Ferreira, A. & Snowden, S. (2017).
Training and Conditioning of Elasmobranchs in Aquaria
In Smith, M., D. Warmolts, D. Thoney, R. Hueter, M. Murray, and J. Ezcurra (Eds.) The Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual II: Recent Advances in the Care of Sharks, Rays and their Relatives (pp. 209-221). Columbus, OH: Ohio Biological Survey. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3npInqWwT3JmnMS_KQAgS7gTL393nfQ/view
Janssen, J. D., Mutch, G. W. & Hayward, J. L.:
Taphonomic effects of high temperature on avian eggshell
PALAIOS, 2011, v. 26, p. 658-664. http://dx.doi.org/10.2110/palo.2011.p11-012r Selected as the BioOne Featured Article for PALAIOS
Professional
Posters & Presentations
Janssen, J. D.: Investing in Professional Development and Opportunity
In session: Zoos Se Puede! The Latino Boom in Zoos & Aquariums – Economic Power and Empowering Employees •Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, September 17, 2024.
Janssen, J.: Moon Jelly Population Sustainability
In session: The Challenges and Successes of Ambassador Breeding for Population Sustainability. •Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, September 17, 2024.
Duchild, R., Schaefer-Padgett, S. and Janssen, J.: Connecting Through the Chondro Census
•Regional Aquatics Workshop, Tacoma, WA, May 2024.
Christie, B. L., Janssen, J. D., and Gardner, R. L.: Keeping up with the Kraken: Releasing Phase 2 of the Kraken Curriculum
•Regional Aquatics Workshop, Tacoma, WA, May 2024. https://www.animalprofessional.com/raw-2024-institutional-knowledge.html