From Degrees to the Seas

Lynn Alumna, Haley Gielbeda Takes “Living the Beachy Lifestyle” to the Next Level

Gielbeda teaching one of the Miami Seaquarium dolphins, Onyx, husbandry behaviors (Unknown, 2022).

Since graduating in 2023, Lynn Alumna, Haley Gielbeda has been working as a Wild Animal Keeper for the New York Aquarium’s Wildlife Conservation Society program.

Gielbeda, who grew up in Long Island New York has always had a passion for ocean life. That passion eventually led her to sunny South Florida as a student at Lynn. 

“As a kid, I grew up admiring zoos and aquariums and what many of them do for our ecosystem,” says Gielbeda. “I always knew my long-term goal was to end up working for an accredited veterinary facility.” 

Although she was not able to study veterinary medicine, Gielbeda utilized many of the other benefits of attending Lynn when working towards receiving her psychology degree. Her goal in attending college was not only to get her degree but also to utilize the area around Lynn to find professional oceanic veterinary experience. 

Gielbeda (left) & Burke (right), with the Miami Seaquarium seals, Coco and Scallop (Unknown, 2021).

“One of the courses I took at Lynn was very helpful in my initial career search,” says Gielbeda. “It helped me learn how to interview for jobs, write a cover letter and resumé, and so much more.”

In 2021, she began a job working with the Miami Seaquarium as one of their dolphin keepers which allowed her to gain professional veterinary experience while also completing her degree. This job was also a fantastic gateway to her current role at the New York Aquarium, which works to rescue animals who are sick or injured and therefore cannot live in the wild. She now does day-to-day care for sea lions, sea otters, penguins, and seals. This includes teaching them husbandry behaviors like how to stay still during a checkup or when getting their teeth brushed, and so much more.

“Helping to train husbandry behaviors is one of the coolest things I’ve done in my field so far,” says Gielbeda. “By teaching animals these sorts of behaviors we are often able to double their life expectancy.”

However, Gielbeda’s dream of becoming a veterinarian does not stop at Lynn or the New York Aquarium. She will be attending the Ross School of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Kitts this winter.