Dorabel Esparza

Education

Master of Arts in Biology, Miami University, 2020

Bachelor of Science in Biology with Emphasis in Zoology, San Diego State University, 2004

Biography

Dorabel Esparza serves the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as a seasonal Research Associate II on the Community Engagement team. Dora earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with Emphasis in Zoology from San Diego State University in 2004 and a subsequent Certificate of Biomedical Quality Systems in 2012. Dora graduated from the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) with a Master of Arts in Biology from Miami University/Project Dragonfly in affiliation with San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) in 2020.

She has regularly facilitated the AIP''s Plants & People course since 2021 and has also supported the Regional Ecology and Conservation Research in Living Collection Institutions courses. As a lifelong supporter of SDZWA, Dora loves her role as a course facilitator, as she can support an organization she believes in while helping students to grow their sense of belonging in nature and conservation. She focused her graduate work on promoting the use of California native plants in urban environments, and she aims to pass on her passion for native plants and pollinators via the facilitation of Project Dragonfly courses.

Dora has also worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a Quality Assurance auditor for preclinical bioanalysis since 2001. Her work focuses on the research and development of drugs treating cancer, gout, pain, nausea, and more, which will hopefully save lives and improve the standard of living for people who can go on to help conserve the environment. She has worked as an intern for the SDZWA Native Seed Bank to assist with seed processing and germination trials, as a K-8 garden educator, and as a consultant for the Center for Plant Conservation, reviewing materials during the development of the CPC Rare Plant Academy online. She also volunteered at the Living Coast Discovery Center with the Horticulture team to keep up the beautiful landscape of the center.

Dora likes traveling, hiking, reading, and spending time with her boys (husband, two sons, and two dogs).