Georgia Aquarium has shared the sad news of the loss of its president and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Brian Davis.
“It is with immense sadness we announce the passing of our leader, friend, and mentor, president and CEO, Dr. Brian Davis.” The Aquarium said on its website.
“Brian was an exceptionally talented and intelligent individual who left a tremendous imprint on the education and zoological fields. Furthermore, he was a beautifully compassionate human being who lifted others up and dedicated himself to creating a caring and diverse space at the Aquarium.”
“He was a dynamic thinker and always pushed the boundaries of what we could achieve, making Georgia Aquarium an extraordinary place. He was one of the first employees at the Aquarium prior to opening in 2005 and led us through years of innovation and growth. Brian’s indelible imprint made all those he knew better – we are better because of Brian.”
“As we navigate this heartbreaking news, our priority lies with caring for staff. We may have limited operations over the coming days to allow our staff time to grieve.”
“We are heartbroken by this news. Brian was a giant in leadership with his intellect, wisdom, and imagination,” said Steve Koonin, Chairman of the board of Georgia Aquarium.”
“Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and all those that he touched throughout his life.”
“While this has shaken us, Brian would have wanted us to find a path forward, and the board of directors have appointed executive vice president Travis Burke as interim CEO.”
Who was Dr. Brian Davis?
Brian Davis was one of the first employees hired at the aquarium, accepting the role of director of education in 2003 until a year after the Downtown attraction opened its doors. Davis took the role of executive vice president in 2018 and was eventually promoted to president and CEO in 2020.
He pursued his undergraduate studies, earning a bachelor’s of science in environmental science from Rutgers University in 1992. He went on to earn his master’s degree in secondary science education at Georgia State University, and later a Ph.D. in secondary education and teaching, also at GSU.
Before joining the Georgia Aquarium, Dr. Davis held several leadership positions in prestigious aquariums and marine research institutions. He was instrumental in developing programs that focused on marine conservation, public education, and the rehabilitation of marine species.
Dr. Davis also previously worked at Zoo Atlanta in the mid to late 1990s and was also an educator at Cobb County Schools – Fox5Atlanta.com
About Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium opened in 2005 and is one of the largest public aquariums in the world. It was first made possible by a $250 million donation from Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus, who envisioned creating a world-class facility in Atlanta. It remains a non-profit organization.
The Georgia Aquarium holds more than 11 million gallons of water in total and houses over 100,000 animals from hundreds of species including whale sharks, manta rays, beluga whales, sea otters, and more. The Ocean Voyager exhibit features one of the world’s largest viewing windows.
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