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JJ McLeod Appointed as Board Chair of ZANE to Champion Neurodiversity and Inclusion Across Zoos and Aquariums
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The Santa Barbara Independent
Credit: Courtesy(January 28, 2026) Santa Barbara, CA – ZANE: Zoos & Aquariums for a Neurodiverse Ecosystem (ZANE) is proud to announce the appointment of JJ McLeod as Board Chair, stepping into leadership at the start of the organization’s second year following a highly successful inaugural year.
ZANE’s second year will focus on strengthening partnerships, refining its framework for institutional change, and expanding its reach to support zoos and aquariums nationwide in creating environments where everyone belongs.
In 2018, McLeod also led the implementation of the Zoo’s Autism Center Certification, making Santa Barbara Zoo the first AZA-accredited Zoo on the West Coast to become a Certified Autism Center.
About the Santa Barbara ZooThe Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. for members and 9:30 a.m. for general admission until 5 p.m. General admission is $39.95 for adults, $29.95 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).