Meet the Team
Grayson Ponti - Founder/President
Grayson is an emerging zoo/aquarium leader and self-advocate for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder. He is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Diversity Committee and an advisory board member of Modeling Zoos and Aquariums as Inclusive Communities of Science (MoZAICS). Grayson’s background is in zoo conservation education and engagement, having worked at three AZA-accredited institutions working up from teen volunteer to management. Additionally, he is currently getting his masters in Teaching of Biological Sciences from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly, serves as an advisor to Immerse Universe and is a zoo historian by night.
Growing up with a severely Autistic, epileptic and nonverbal brother and navigating his own diagnoses, Grayson has always had a strong passion for making the zoo and aquarium profession as inclusive as possible. He has taken every opportunity to use his voice to tell his story and advocate for neurodivergent voices in the zoological community. Grayson sees great need to nurture and support neurodivergent leaders in the zoo conservation movement and create an environment that sets them up to thrive. He has been blessed with amazing opportunities and mentors in the profession and wants to ensure all neurodivergent individuals have the same opportunity.
Grayson currently lives in the Salt Lake City metro area with his wife Courtney. When not doing zoo activities, he is probably wildlife watching, traveling, hiking, enjoying Disney animation, going to a museum or seeing a musical.
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Listen to Grayson's story and vision for ZANE here.
Tiffany James- Board Chair
Tiffany James is a former zookeeper and current Membership and Donor Relations Manager at Zoo Knoxville. She is also a professor at Unity Environmental University as well as Miami University's Project Dragonfly program. She has been involved with her zoo's Culture & Inclusion Committee for several years and is now serving on the AZA Diversity Committee. Her interest in promoting a neurodiverse ecosystem grew after experiencing a head injury that resulted in ADHD and Post Concussive Syndrome. Tiffany is incredibly passionate about supporting other neurodiverse individuals and promoting a safe and productive work space where everyone can thrive.
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​"My journey into learning more about neurodiversity really started when I experienced a traumatic brain injury last year. I had been a keeper for many years and suddenly was deemed as "unsafe" to work in animal areas. It was a hard reality shift for me- but fortunately I'm a person that loves being busy and had many skills built up to help transition my career working with animals into one working with humans. My goal for ZANE is to help people find the tools that they need to succeed and grow as professionals and leaders within the zoo and aquarium fields."
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JJ McLeod, M.Ed.- Vice Chair
JJ is Director of Education at the Santa Barbara Zoo and Founder of Autism Embrace. A disability advocate with over a decade of experience consulting & developing programs, JJ supports clients by designing innovative approaches and spaces for equal access and appropriate services.
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JJ combines a background in education (M.Ed. & Education Specialist & Mild/Moderate Credentials) with layers of experience in formal and informal settings, developing events and creating strong partnerships.
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JJ speaks nationally on best practices for inclusion integration into community organizations and spaces. She also was honored as one of Pacific Business Times 40 under 40 business professionals in 2020.
"Neurodiversity, to me, is a deep commitment to empathy, understanding, and action. As a mom of a child with autism, an education director, and an autism specialist, I’m determined to build a world where every person feels valued and supported. It’s about breaking down barriers, providing the right resources, and celebrating that it’s our different minds—and the support we give each other—that make us stronger and ready to thrive."
Heather Doggett-Treasurer
Heather Doggett is the Founder and CEO of Immerse Universe, a production company informed by conservation behavior change science and integrating the very best in experience design to create measurable mission impact. Heather brings nearly three decades of experience in zoo/aquarium leadership with an extensive background in leading diversity and inclusion initiatives, experience design, revenue generation, conservation education, and operations.
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As a member of executive and senior leadership teams, Heather has led and championed strategic planning, exhibit design, event design, theatrical productions, guest experience initiatives, DEIJ strategy, conservation psychology strategy, audience evaluation, and interpretive planning at complex and matrixed organizations including the National Aquarium, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (LLPA), Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Tampa Zoo at Lowry Park, and the Santa Barbara Zoo. Additionally, she chaired the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Diversity Committee and was a member for the majority of its existence.
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She is specifically known for integrating art and science to create exceptional guest experiences, forming unique partnerships, hiring high performing teams, and demonstrating servant leadership while eagerly taking on challenging projects.
Tiffany Evans- Secretary
Tiffany is an Educator at the Saint Louis Zoo with over a decade of experience and a self-advocate for ADHD. She is the zoo's biofact assistant curator and heavily involved in education and outreach Pacific bird conservation in the Mariana Islands.
"Receiving a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis came with many emotions for me. I felt seen and understood for the first time in my life but quickly realized how things would have been different growing up if I had the accommodations I needed. I hope to help, support, and inspire others to be advocates for themselves, and facilitate understanding for neurodivergence."
Board of Directors
Sean Den Bok, M.B.A. - Chief of Education and Engagement, Fresno Chaffee Zoo
“As a devoted advocate for inclusivity, I am passionate about creating warm and welcoming spaces in Zoos and Aquariums for everyone, particularly our BIPOC, LGBTQ, and neurodivergent communities. I firmly believe that nature and education should be accessible to all, allowing each individual to connect with the wonders of wildlife. Together, we can amplify every voice, celebrate our unique perspectives, and foster a richer understanding of the natural world.
‘In diversity, there is beauty and strength.’ – Maya Angelou”
Taylor Gilley, Ph.D.- Staff Learning and Development Director, Houston Zoo
"For me, neurodiversity means recognizing and valuing the variety of ways that people’s brains work, learn, and interact with the world. It’s about embracing cognitive differences as strengths, not limitations, which is key in fostering a truly inclusive workplace. As someone with ADHD and learning differences, I understand firsthand how diverse ways of thinking can enhance problem-solving and creativity. From an HR perspective, supporting neurodiversity means building systems that allow every individual to succeed, from flexible work environments to accessible training and growth opportunities. Neurodiversity enriches a team’s perspective, fueling innovation and helping us better understand and serve a broad community."
Lauren Howard, D.V.M., Dipl. ACZM- Zoo and Conservation Liaison, PEEL Therapeutics
“It is important to me that zoo health professionals are supported and valued for who they are and what they bring to the challenging and sometimes unforgiving world of zoo veterinary care. Neurodiversity enriches veterinary medicine, offering diverse perspectives and talents, and when we provide an inclusive, welcoming environment, it makes life better for our people and the animals we care for.”
Cailigh MacDonald, M.F.A.- Associate Director of Design, New England Aquarium
“To me, neurodiversity is a super power for creativity and problem solving. As someone who happens to have ADHD, neurodivergence is the lens through which I have always navigated the world. ADHD makes me curious, caring, energetic, and hard working. The challenges I faced being neurodivergent didn’t stem from there being something “wrong” with me, it was often from a lack of understanding and awareness of, or the bias against neurodivergence that stemmed from that lack of understanding, and therefore lack of resources or inclusion. When we embrace diversity we get innovation, creativity, exploration and discovery, empathy, understanding, and so many other positives that humanity as a whole gets to benefit from. Bill Nye once said: “everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” We all have a unique perspective. I think one of the best forms of advocacy for neurodivergence is to be an ambassador for it, and being proud of it. By showing the super power and bringing more awareness that it doesn’t fit in a box, that there is more than meets the eye, and that neurodivergence is more prevalent than people think. Neurodiversity brings flavor, why shouldn’t we celebrate or embrace that?”
Lori Perkins, M.S.- Vice President, Canopy Strategic Partners
"To me, “neurodiversity” encompasses the wide range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits, representing normal, natural variation among humans (and other animals). Unlike a school grading system where an 'F' represents the lowest point (bad) and an 'A' the highest (good), neurodiversity has no fixed endpoints. There are no labels like “good” and “bad” or “normal” and “abnormal” anchoring this spectrum.
Diversity in brain function is a universal feature of humanity, and we all land somewhere along this vast and multidimensional spectrum – and where you land today might be different from where you land tomorrow, because mental wellbeing isn’t a fixed, permanent trait.
There is no specific point or range on this spectrum that can be deemed “the norm,” and that’s a wonderful realization: it means that it means we each bring variation and richness and depth to the world every day, it means we can grow and change over time, and it means we keep things interesting!"
Alexia Quintana- Guest Services Office Coordinator, Hogle Zoo
"For me, neurodiversity means finding a sense of belonging and community. I've always known my brain worked a bit differently than others, but discovering that there are others whose brains function similarly was a transformative experience. It has given me a powerful sense of connection and belonging, and I strive to foster that same feeling for others in our neurodiverse ecosystem."
Alex Rodriguez- Director of People and Culture, Dallas Zoo
"Neurodiversity, to me, is about recognizing and embracing the unique ways we each process, think, and communicate. Growing up, I didn’t always have the language or understanding to identify or support myself and others who were neurodivergent, but I sensed that we needed different approaches. Today, even with so many resources available, I still believe it’s essential to approach neurodivergence with openness and a commitment to fostering each other’s success. As a first-generation American, I also recognize the cultural dimensions that shape how neurodiversity is perceived and supported. It’s especially important to me to ensure that Black and brown communities are uplifted with empathy and cultural intelligence, so that every individual has the opportunity to thrive within an environment that truly sees and values them."
Jen Rudolph- Co-Designing Conservation Project Manager, Roger Williams Park Zoo
"When I envision a world where neurodivergent individuals are fully supported and empowered, I am exhilarated by the possibilities. Our unique strengths have the power to drive innovation, deepen connections, and transform conservation and community efforts.
As someone with lived experience in a neurodivergent family and academic training in human and environmental studies, I understand the value of integrating social science into fields traditionally dominated by hard sciences. Neurodivergent perspectives are essential to addressing complex challenges like climate change.
I am passionate about helping organizations create truly inclusive environments where impact aligns with intent. By advancing ZANE’s mission, I aim to bridge gaps and foster meaningful change in the conservation community."