IMPACT presents Terry Maple, "Professor in the Zoo - Designing the Future for Wildlife in Human Care"

About Terry Maple

Terry Maple, the Elizabeth S. Watts Professor Emeritus at Georgia Tech, is best known for his visionary leadership in revitalizing Atlanta’s city zoo after the most publicized scandal in the history of American zoos. Maple’s 18 years of reform leadership rebranded Zoo Atlanta as a nonprofit corporation and restored its credibility. Atlanta’s public-private partnership started a trend to privatization in the zoo industry. According to former Mayor Andrew Young, Zoo Atlanta is the most successful privatization in Georgia history.   

During Maple's tenure as CEO, Zoo Atlanta became recognized as one of the world's most innovative zoological parks. In 1987 and 2000, the zoo was honored by the Metropolitan Communities Foundation as Atlanta's "best-managed nonprofit corporation.”

Upon his retirement from the zoo in 2003, Maple returned fulltime to an endowed chair at Georgia Tech. In 2008 he retired as Elizabeth Smithgall Watts Professor Emeritus, marking 30 years of service in the School of Psychology. Maple was granted a formal leave-of-absence from Georgia Tech to become the President and CEO of the Palm Beach Zoo.

An elected fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Association of Psychological Science, as well as a former president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Maple was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 1998 by the Atlanta Chapter of Stanford Business School Alumni. He received the 1999 “President’s Award” from the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau for his contributions to tourism in Georgia.

Maple and his wife Addie recently relocated to Amelia Island, Florida. As a scholar-in-residence, he will also teach and mentor graduate students in two departments at the University of North Florida. He continues an active schedule as a consultant to zoos, aquariums, and other nonprofit organizations.

About the Impact Speaker Series

The IMPACT Speaker Series brings highly successful business leaders from a variety of industries to campus to share their experiences and give advice to students and other entrepreneurs on topics ranging from building a venture around intellectual capital to socially responsible leadership. The weekly series provides Georgia Tech students, alumni, and the Atlanta business community an opportunity to network and learn from successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and notable business and nonprofit leaders. The lecture series is sponsored by the Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Event Details

Date/Time:

  • Wednesday, March 8, 2017
    4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

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For More Information Contact

Dori Pap, dori.pap@ile.gatech.edu