Briana Thomas

Briana Thomas (she/her) is a Learning Programs Specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. She delivers virtual educational programming for elementary schools, produces digital materials to enhance learning experiences, and provides accessible resources for students, teachers, and families both locally and nationwide.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology from Arizona State University, over 10 years of experience in animal husbandry, from veterinary medicine to marine mammal rehabilitation, and 5 years of teaching in the conservation education field.
Previously, she was an Education Specialist at the Philadelphia Zoo where she implemented inquiry-based learning methods in virtual live programs to spark curiosity in students about conservation and fostered connections between zoo guests and wildlife through interpretive presentations with animal ambassadors onsite, throughout the community, and in the media.

Briana Thomas will be speaking at the Digital Collections Summit 2025 :

Conservation Classroom: A Zoo’s Digital Education Collection

How does a Zoo create a digital collection? Find out as you explore Conservation Classroom, a digital education collection created at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Conservation Classroom is an innovative virtual school program that uses multiple modes of digital media to engage K-5 students around the world in wildlife conservation. The program combines short videos, live webinars, and activities to create a suite of accessible digital resources for educators to use both synchronously and asynchronously with their students in the classroom.