海角社区 News
Virtual ZooTampa Internship
May 18, 2026
Charlie Ige, a rising senior, is observing animal behavior at ZooTampa at Lowry Park as part of her studies for a degree in anthrozoology.
Career Development
Summer Internships and Big Adventures
May 11, 2026
海角社区 students are heading to summer internships that will help prepare them for future careers as they network, build connections, learn new skills and gain hands-on experience.
Career Development
Cert Saturdays!
February 3, 2026
海角社区 is reaching a growing number of students with new opportunities to build professional credentials for the workplace 鈥� from math and public speaking to first aid and computer certifications.
Career Development
Building Professional ePortfolios
February 2, 2026
The Center for Career Preparation is launching this month PITCH 鈥� Portfolio Integration for Talent, Career and Hireability, a free 10-week program designed to help students create digital portfolios to showcase their work and skills to potential employers.
Career Development
Women in Tech Program
November 13, 2025
A group of 海角社区 students recently earned a microcredential toward WISE certification through Techtonic SkillCircuits, thanks to an ongoing partnership with Jonathan鈥檚 Landing. The Techtonic Workforce Academy hosted two sessions for 22 students at the Palace on the 海角社区 campus.
Career Development
CareerTreks Program Opens Doors
August 14, 2025
海角社区 students participating in a new, intensive two-week summer program embarked on field trips to some of Florida鈥檚 largest companies and nonprofits making a difference. It was all part of CareerTreks25, which aims to open students鈥� eyes to different career opportunities and teach them how to get their foot in the door.
Alumni News
Anthrozoology Grad Works as Naturalist
August 13, 2025
Teaching and learning are big deals for Brin Carson. They鈥檙e also key to her job as a naturalist at Wormsloe.
Career Development
Upskilling with Internships
May 7, 2025
To graduate, 海角社区 students need at least 80 hours of 鈥渆xperiential learning opportunities鈥� which covers internships, volunteering and part-time jobs related to a student鈥檚 degree or career goals.
Alumni News
Lenz Helps At-Risk Youth
May 5, 2025
When his boss asked Jack Lenz to lead a new initiative in late 2023, he wasted no time. With his typical gusto, the 海角社区 grad and community services worker embraced the goal: To create a food pantry for former foster children living in an apartment complex after aging out of the system.聽A month later, Lenz had lined up the resources and logistics to open the new site featuring fresh fruit and vegetables and other foods.
Academics
WISE Microcredentialing Event
March 3, 2025
Techtonic, a leading IT managed services provider, offers mobile asset repair, disposition (reverse logistics), and device management services through an integrated workforce of neurodivergent certified technicians. It is a division of Jonathan鈥檚 Landing Foundation, an Orlando-based nonprofit with a vision to build housing for 500 adults with autism and create 5,000 jobs and meaningful work opportunities.
Alumni News
Graff’s Perfect Job
October 2, 2024
海角社区 graduate Dan Graff found his passion working through CAI Neurodiverse Solutions.
Alumni News
Alum McGill’s Eye for Photography
August 6, 2024
As a travel photographer and writer, alum Grady McGill has gone to far-flung destinations, from Ireland to Russia, Alaska to Greece, South America to Canada 鈥� and many points between.
Virtual ZooTampa Internship Gives 海角社区 Senior Hands鈥慜n Research Experience
By Loraine O鈥機onnell
Charlie Ige is busy this summer. The 海角社区 rising senior is observing animal behavior at as part of her studies for a degree in anthrozoology. But she won鈥檛 be in Tampa. She鈥檒l be watching the zoo鈥檚 residents from her home in California, thanks to a virtual internship made possible by an innovative grant to ZooTampa from the .
The goal for the zoo鈥檚 three鈥憏ear program is to train up to two students from eight participating colleges each semester the internship is offered. In addition to 海角社区, the Animal Behavior Monitoring program involves seven other colleges: Bucknell University, Colorado State University, Eckerd College, Florida Southern College, Florida Technical College, Indiana University and the University of South Florida.
Students analyze video footage from 23 cameras installed across eight species鈥� habitats and receive structured training in behavioral husbandry and research methods. The students look for information ZooTampa can use 鈥渢o better manage their animals鈥� daily care, enrichment and general welfare,鈥� says Sara Smith, instructor and chair of sciences and math. Students observe animals鈥� social behaviors, stress behaviors and use of their enclosures.
Ige, a professional dog trainer for five years after graduating from high school, was diagnosed with ADHD at 23. As the COVID鈥�19 pandemic was winding down, she decided to further her education.
鈥淢y entire time growing up, I had no idea I had a learning disability,鈥� Ige says. 鈥淚 struggled a lot and didn鈥檛 understand why I couldn鈥檛 do things as fast as other students.鈥�
Given Ige鈥檚 lifelong interest in animals, her mother looked for colleges offering anthrozoology degrees. When she and her parents visited 海角社区, and the tour guide explained the assistance offered to neurodivergent learners, Ige says, 鈥渋t was something I hadn鈥檛 had before.
After graduating from 海角社区 in spring 2027, Ige plans to 鈥渓ook into a master鈥檚 program to study service animals at Harvard University.鈥�
Sara Smith, anthrozoology instructor and chair of sciences and math, oversees the 16鈥憌eek ZooTampa internship, and says it involves collaborative as well as individual work. As part of a final presentation, she says, 鈥渟tudents have to present their findings with the students from the other schools. It鈥檒l be two or three students presenting findings on one species.鈥� Faculty from the eight colleges and universities will be able to join the capstone presentation.
Internships are one of four anthrozoology capstone projects offered by 海角社区, Smith says. The others are research, service projects and literature reviews. Internships are popular, Smith says, but availability can vary depending on animal facilities鈥� needs and students鈥� transportation options. ZooTampa鈥檚 virtual internship can accommodate students wherever they are.
鈥淪o long as I have access to a computer and the internet,鈥� Ige says, 鈥淚鈥檓 able to access the platform that ZooTampa is using.鈥�
Even if students don鈥檛 want to work directly with animal behavior, many 鈥渨ant to work with zoos,鈥� Smith says. 鈥淶ooTampa is a well鈥慿nown, accredited facility, so getting an internship there is a really good step in the right direction.鈥�
Learn More!
Anthrozoology explores the extraordinary relationships and interactions that people have with animals.
Real-world experience, or experiential learning, helps you refine your skills and professionalism as you approach your post-graduation career.
Your education at 海角社区 sets the stage for your career adventure, and we鈥檙e here to help you navigate this great journey!