David was raised in East Setauket, NY, a small town on Long Island near Stony Brook University. His passion for conservation stemmed from spending his childhood rescuing injured wildlife with local rehabilitators and participating in shorelines conservation camps. As a scholastic wrestler, hard work and determination were ingrained into his personality at a very young age.
Achieving his Bachelor’s in Science and majoring in Conservation Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. David spent his collegiate career working with indigenous cultures and New York species conservation research. He was an educator for the Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force’s Environmental Youth Camp and participated in sustainable eco-tourism in Costa Rica. Working under a SUNY ESF PhD student, David was a field technician for scientific research increasing amphibian biodiversity in the New York State. He also conducted multiple independent research studies on insect reproduction and the effect of ecological engineering on plant species diversity.
After a behavior research experience on the big cats of Kruger National Park, South Africa, David interned at a big cat sanctuary here in the United States. Understanding the need for conservation here in our own backyards, David acquired his Professional Science Master’s Degree in Zoo, Aquarium and Animal Shelter Management at Colorado State University. He began organizing exotic animal rescues and relocations nationwide, working under Outreach for Animals. Awarded a position on the Board of Directors at the nonprofit Generation Awakening, David learned about nonprofit administration and organization management.
David assisted in the startup of C.L.I.C.K., a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving adoptability in animal shelters through behavior modification and scientific research. His master’s thesis involved working with captive wildlife to understand behavior, welfare, and cognition. Through his professional career, he was worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations including conservation organizations, zoos, sanctuaries, rescue/rehabilitation centers and animal shelters. Currently, David is working towards his second masters, an MBA at Colorado State in Global, Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
David is a Certified Interpretive Guide with the National Association for Interpretation. His PSM thesis is titled "The importance of species specific cognitive ecology during a two choice discrimination task with captive wildlife."
In his spare time, David enjoys the company of his dog, exploring the wilderness, reading books, and continues his avid athleticism.