The Sacramento Zoo's trustee board on Tuesday announced that Jason Jacobs has been selected as the new director and chief executive officer of the zoo. Jacobs will take over the post in early January 2018.
“The SacramentoZoological Society chose Jason from among 38 prospects and five finalists. We are impressed with his track record at some of the leading zoos in America, and especially in what he has accomplished in Tucson,” said Jeff Raimundo, President of the Sacramento Zoological Society’s board of trustees.
Officials say Jacobs, who is currently the director of the Reid ParkZoo in Tucson, Arizona, has been involved inzoos for most of his life and has worked in almost every department at a zoo during his career. They add that Jacobs received dual bachelors degrees in environmental science and English from Florida International University. In addition to his time at the zoo in Tucson, Jacobs is said to have worked at Walt Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the PotawatomiZoo in South Bend, Indiana, and the Los AngelesZoo.
The Sacramento Zoo is said to draw and average of 500,000 visitors each year.