Pressroom

Cleveland Zoological Society names new Executive Director

Posted: July 31, 2019

The Cleveland Zoological Society Board of Directors has named Sarah Crupi as Executive Director. Crupi joined the Zoo Society as Director of External Relations in February 2016 and has been serving as Interim Executive Director since December 2018.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, Crupi is responsible for strategic planning and business operations of the nonprofit, staff management, board relations and collaboration with Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

“Sarah has shown tremendous leadership in her role as Interim Executive Director, and the Board unanimously voted to appoint her Executive Director,” said Board of Directors President Mike Vaughn. “She is strategic, forward-thinking and collaborative, and has in short time implemented fundraising and staffing strategies that have yielded strong financial results, as well as new energy from donors and staff.”

Founded in 1957, the Cleveland Zoological Society is the advancement partner of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The Zoo Society is committed to securing private philanthropic support for the Zoo and its programming, raising public awareness of the Zoo as a community priority, and giving members and donors great experiences and great value for their investment. The Zoo Society distributed $6.3 million in operating and capital support to and on behalf of the Zoo in 2018.

Since 2011, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cleveland Zoological Society have invested $35 million in larger and more complex habitats, including African Elephant Crossing, Rosebrough Tiger Passage and, most recently, Asian Highlands.

"The Cleveland Zoological Society is a critical partner in our collective mission to make Cleveland Metroparks Zoo a national leader in both animal care and conservation," said Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Executive Director Chris Kuhar, Ph.D. "Sarah has been a great asset in our recent improvements such as the innovative Asian Highlands habitat and upcoming rhino yard expansion, and I look forward to working with her in her new role."

A native of Sagamore Hills and graduate of Ohio University, Crupi spent 16 years in Rochester, New York, in various leadership roles with Gannett, a national media company. She currently resides in Broadview Heights with her husband Mike and their two sons.

For more information about the Zoo Society, please visit ClevelandZooSociety.org or email us info@ClevelandZooSociety.org.