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Mary Ann Colley has been with Butterfly Pavilion since 2002 and began her work as VP of Science and Conservation in 2010 and Chief Operating Officer in 2020. She provides oversite for all Butterfly Pavilion operations while focusing specifically on Science and Conservation, Retail and Facilities.

Mary Ann grew up in south Texas where she found her love for invertebrates. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Bioenvironmental Sciences and Entomology in 2001 from Texas A&M University, College Station. In 2010, she received her Master’s degree in Education – Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Regis University, Denver, CO. Over her tenure with Butterfly Pavilion she has consulted on three NASA space shuttle missions, 2008-2011, for life science experiments with butterflies and spiders on the International Space Station. She led Butterfly Pavilion through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation process, awarded in 2014 and 2019; Butterfly Pavilion is the only standalone AZA accredited invertebrate zoo in the world. She collaboratively formed the Colorado Pollinator Network in 2016 and continues to chair this statewide network, now supporting an annual Pollinator Summit. Mary Ann oversees the growth of Butterfly Pavilion’s science, research, and conservation programs focused on invertebrate breeding with an emphasis on welfare and sustainable populations, as well as Butterfly Pavilion’s Pollinator Awareness through Conservation and Education initiative, which focuses on habitat restoration, monitoring and pollination work. She oversees the Leading Environmental Action for Sustainability (LEAFS) program, and is dedicated to bringing a unique perspective to sustainable business by supporting habitat and invertebrate conservation through innovative concepts like butterfly farming and beekeeping. Mary Ann also serves as affiliate faculty and mentor to graduate students in the Department of Biology’s Professional Science Master’s in Zoo, Aquarium and Animal Shelter Management at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.