Thane Maynard (Class of 1976)
Director of Cincinnati Zoo

Thane Maynard is the Director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The mission of his work teaching and writing mirrors that of the zoo: to tell the story of biological diversity, natural history, and wildlife conservation to the general public.

Maynard is best known as writer and host of numerous wildlife programs, including the daily “public radio series” the “90-Second Naturalist,” which airs on stations across North America. He has been featured on “Good Morning America,” “Today,” and “CBS.”

As a boy growing up in central Florida, he explored the low country swamps in the days before condominiums. From this initial interest in wild places, he went on to receive his B.A degree in environmental studies from Rollins College in his hometown of Winter Park, Florida, and his M.S. degree from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources.

Maynard is the author of thirteen books on wildlife. His latest book, Hope for Animals & Their World which he co-authored with Jane Goodall, will be available in September, 2009.

In addition to his work for the Cincinnati Zoo, Maynard is an active member of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), serving on the Field Conservation Committee and Protected Areas Initiative. Maynard is involved in the Cincinnati community as a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class XVII. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Margo Marsh Biodiversity Foundation in Washington, D.C.