Tami Brown, Executive Director

Tami moved to St. Louis in 2019 to open the Aquarium, after opening the Greater Cleveland Aquarium in Ohio and operating it for 8 years. She is inspired daily by the passion, knowledge and care the team puts into the wellbeing of the animal residents and the mission of both the Aquarium and the Aquarium Foundation. In her free time, Tami enjoys playing the piano, kickboxing, bicycling and visiting museums. She and her husband are renovating their home in Benton Park, which keeps them busy most weekends. Tami feels very lucky to be able to see Aquarium guests get excited about interacting with an animal or learning something they didn’t know before, and to represent such a great new asset in the St. Louis community.

Gail Weller, Development Manager

Gail was born and raised in St. Louis and has always been drawn to animals and the water. River Otters are one of her favorite animals and she is excited to now have several as “co-workers”! Gail has over a decade of professional experience in nonprofit development, working for various organizations serving youth and the elderly. In her free time, she enjoys reading, fitness, exploring new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, and vacations at the beach. Being a part of the mission of the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation and a vital city attraction is a dream come true!

Caitlin Cross, Development & Marketing Coordinator

Caitlin was born and raised in St. Louis, graduating from Marquette University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Welfare and Justice and a double minor in Marketing and Business Administration. Before joining the Aquarium Foundation, she worked with City Garden Montessori School and The Community, a nonprofit organization in Milwaukee, where she would assist with fundraising, social media management, and other aspects pertaining to nonprofit development. In her free time, Caitlin loves to play tennis, visit new coffee shops, and explore different parks around the city. Caitlin is thrilled about this opportunity to work with the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation, as she is able to advocate for conservation efforts and share her love of nature and animals with others!

Mel Hooper, Education Manager

For as long as Mel can remember, they have been doing everything they can to encourage people to care for the creepy crawlies. After spending their youth as a Junior Curator at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, they graduated from Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina with a B.S in Wildlife Biology and minor in Elementary Education. Some of the seemingly endless places they have been privileged to call home include western NC, tracking elk populations in the Great Smoky Mountains and whitewater raft guiding, the Boston Harbor Islands teaching STEM and socio-emotional programs, and Sinks Canyon State Park in Wyoming. They fell in love with Montessori Community School in Durham, NC, in 2020, where they spent three years as an educator and Auxiliary Manager. They are so excited to once again be able to share their love for all things scaled, furred, feathered, and otherwise in this new journey at the Aquarium!

Cory Harris, Educator

Cory was born and raised in St. Louis and has loved animals, especially snakes, as far back as he can remember. He got his start by volunteering in zoos and animal shelters where he discovered a massive passion for education which drove him to earning a B.S. in Zoo Science with a minor in Conservation Science from Friends University. While at Friends, he provided animal education programs for the school and local community. Cory loves education because he loves to show guests how we are all connected to the ecosystem and why it's important to save it. When he's not teaching, Cory loves playing Magic: The Gathering, singing, and reading.

Qyn Byrne, Educator

Born and raised in St. Louis, Qyn has been passionate about animals and education for their entire life. In between their time at Bodoin College earning a bachelor's degree in Earth and Oceanographic Science with a minor in Scoiology, they studied Scarborough Marshes in Maine, microplastics off the coast of New Zealand, and spent time teaching international students the American Village in France. Since 2019, they have been an active member of both the St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Aquarium. They have held various roles here, including Guest Experience Associate, Entertainer, and now Educator with the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation. Beyond their professional pursuits, Qyn enjoys a diverse range of hobbies, from tabletop gaming, line dancing, gardening and exploring the latest technological advancements. Qyn is excited to be an Educator and continuously finds ways to break down complex ideas into concepts understandable to all. You’re never too young nor too old to learn more