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Background on Dr. Sue Crissey
Ullrey Achievement Award and Crissey Training Fund
In Memory: Sue Crissey
Background on Dr. Sue Crissey
Ullrey Achievement award
Crissey Training Fund
In Memory: Susan D. Crissey, Ph.D.
December 12, 1950 to November 23, 2002
It is with great sadness that the family of Susan D. Crissey announces her death
after an extended illness with ovarian cancer.
Sue grew up in the southern Michigan town of Jackson. After graduating from
Jackson High School, Sue went on to earn both her BS and MS Degrees in Human
Nutrition from Michigan State University. She spent four years as an
Investigator with the US Food and Drug Administration before accepting a
scholarship to attend the University of Maryland where she made the switch away
from human to animal nutrition. Upon earning her Ph.D., Sue accepted a
post-doctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian Institution where she focused her
work in the field of exotic animals at the National Zoos' facilities in Front
Royal, VA. She also began field work in exotic animal nutrition as part of a
National Zoo team studying Howler monkeys in the llanos of Venezuela.
Sue returned to the mid-west in 1987 when she joined Brookfield Zoo in Chicago,
where she was employed until her death. During her more than 15 years at
Brookfield, Sue acquired almost $1 million in grants and awards for a variety of
studies. These included nutrition research in rhino diseases, exotic cat diets,
Mexican howler monkey and Micronesian kingfisher vitamin D requirements, diet
and renal disease in Callimico goeldii, iron accumulation in European starlings,
and the nutritional status of many other captive and free-ranging animals. She
authored more than 100 scientific papers and several book chapters and books in
the of field animal nutrition. She initiated the Nutrition Residency program at
Brookfield and held adjunct staff appointments at the University of
Illinois-Chicago and the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State in Raleigh.
With Brookfield Zoo, Sue established Zoo Nutrition Network, a program to
encourage cost-effective ways for zoos to purchase feeds. This program offered
an outreach program to other zoos needing assistance in diet formulation at a
low cost. Sue worked with zoos and animal breeding and care facilities
worldwide, was a well-recognized expert in the field of exotic animal nutrition,
and most recently awarded the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians' Duane
E. Ullrey Achievement Award for her distinguished work in the field.
In 1992, Sue and her husband, Christopher Smith, restored a 120 year-old
farmhouse in Burgaw, NC and established residence on what is now Bottle Branch
Farm. They have shared their home and land with a myriad of dogs, cats, and
various farm animals, and have hosted many high school exchange students from
countries around the globe. Sue was active in the Pender County community and
enjoyed membership in Rotary International, the Pender Historical Society, local
high school athletic booster clubs, and the library. Always the animal educator,
Sue could be found biannually at the Burgaw Spring and Fall Fests on the County
courthouse square with a host of farm animals about which visitors could learn.
Sue is survived by her husband, her mother, Vera Crissey, and siblings, her
animals, and numerous other family and friends who gave so much love and
support, especially during the years of her illness. A memorial service will be
held at Harrell's Funeral Home in Burgaw on Monday, December 2, 6:00 pm. The
Brookfield Zoo has established a fund in Sue's name to carry on the work that
was most near and dear to her heart - training others to become zoo animal
nutritionists and to stimulate the curiosity Sue treasured about the world
around us with others. The goal of the Fund is to support residencies in
nutritional studies that will improve the welfare of animals in zoos and
aquariums. In lieu of flowers, Sue has asked that donations be made to the Susan
D. Crissey Zoo Nutritionist Training Fund, Chicago Zoological Society /
Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513.
Background on Dr. Sue Crissey
Sue Crissey grew up in the southern Michigan town of Jackson – a town, she
likes to remind everyone, whose claim to fame is the world’s largest walled
prison. After graduating from Jackson High School, Sue went on to earn both her
Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Human Nutrition from Michigan State University.
She spent four years as an Investigator with the US Food and Drug Administration
before then accepting a scholarship to attend the University of Maryland where
she made the switch from humans to animals earning her PhD in Animal Nutrition.
Turning volunteer work at the National Zoo during her PhD program into a
post-doctoral fellowship from the Smithsonian Institution, Sue continued her
nutritional work with exotic animals – Pere David’s Deer – at NZP’s facilities
in Front Royal, VA, and field work as part of an NZP team studying howler
monkeys in the llanos of Venezuela.
Her travels took her back to the Midwest
in 1987 when she joined Brookfield Zoo with whom she is still employed today.
During Sue’s career at Brookfield, there has never been a dull moment. Sue has
been instrumental in the continued development of the science of zoo animal
nutrition, founding the AZA Nutrition Advisory Group and advising its AZA Taxon
Advisory Groups and Species Survival Plans including the okapi, Humboldt
penguin, antelope, New World primate, passerines, Prosimian primates, gibbons,
Micronesian kingfisher, African wild dog, Asian small clawed otter, and others.
During her 15 years at Brookfield, Sue has been instrumental in acquiring almost
$1 million in grants and awards for studies including nutrition research in
rhino diseases, exotic cat diets, Mexican howler monkey and Micronesian
kingfisher vitamin D requirements, diet and renal disease in Callimico
goeldii, iron accumulation in European starlings, and the nutritional status
of captive and free-ranging animals.
Educating newcomers to the field of zoo
animal nutrition has always been important to Sue, and through a residency
program at Brookfield and adjunct staff appointments at the University of
Illinois-Chicago and the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State, she has
been able to share what she’s learned and excite and inspire others to study and
pursue careers in zoo animal nutrition. She established Zoo Nutrition Network, a
program to encourage cost-effective ways to purchase feeds and offer an outreach
program to other zoos needing assistance in diet formulation at a low cost.
Those of us who have had the pleasure of working with Sue, know she’s always
been ready, willing and able to offer assistance to the zoo community including
those of us in North Carolina, Fort Worth, Dallas, Knoxville, Syracuse, Lincoln
Park, Baltimore, and California. An ardent researcher, Sue has more than 100
publications to her credit and strong affiliations with the AZA, American
Society of Animal Science, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Rotary
International, and the Education Foundation for Foreign Study exchange student
program. Since 1993, Sue has been living on Bottle Branch Farm in Burgaw, North
Carolina, where she shares her life with her husband, Chris, and an assortment
of critters including horses, cows, goats, llama, turkeys, chickens, ducks,
dogs, cats, and a Blue-Fronted Amazon parrot named Andy.
Sue Crissey
Receives Ullrey Achievement Award from AAZV
On 9 October 2002, Dr. Sue Crissey was awarded the Duane E. Ullrey Achievement
Award from the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) at their
conference in Milwaukee, WI. This award is given for exceptional achievement in
the science of wild animal health and service to the AAZV. It is given
specifically to those who are not practicing veterinarians. The award has only
been presented twice previously – to Duane Ullrey and Ulie Seal. The Nutrition
Advisory Group was represented by Dr. Duane Ullrey (who co-presented the award
with Dr. Don Janssen from San Diego Wild Animal Park) and a group of
nutritionists from the Brookfield Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, and
Lincoln Park Zoo. Sue could not be present for the award ceremony. Drs. Ullrey
and Janssen read an acceptance speech from Sue, and presented background on
Sue’s career to date. Several members of the NAG had prepare a brief slide show
which was presented as well.
Chicago
Zoological Society Establishes Fund in Crissey’s Name
After the presentation of the Ullrey Award to Dr. Sue Crissey at the AAZV
Conference in Milwaukee, Dr. Tom Meehan from the Brookfield Zoo announced the
creation of a fund in Sue’s name. To honor the significant career achievements
of Dr. Sue Crissey as founder and director of Brookfield Zoo’s program of Zoo
Nutrition Services, the Chicago Zoological Society is establishing the Susan D.
Crissey Zoo Nutritionist Training Fund. As many of you know, one of Sue’s
greatest commitments has been to train, professionally develop, and engage the
next generation of zoo nutritionists. It is the Society’s hope that the Susan D.
Crissey Zoo Nutritionist Training Fund will celebrate Sue’s tremendous
achievements and contributions to expanding the field of zoo animal nutrition by
providing support for such opportunities as professional training and research
travel, awards for students to attend scientific conferences, or zoo nutrition
residencies. For anyone wishing to contribute to this fund, you are encouraged
to contact the Chicago Zoological Society or the AZA Nutrition Advisory Group.
Posted 17 October 2002, updated 2 December 2002
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