Jennifer Dittmar

Jennifer Dittmar is the director of National Aquarium Animal Rescue. From traveling up and down the Atlantic coast for stranding events to overseeing seal and sea turtle rehabilitation operations in Baltimore, Jen has a wide range of job responsibilities. National Aquarium Animal Rescue responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles along the nearly 3,190 miles of Maryland coast and has successfully rescued, treated and returned hundreds of animals to their natural habitats. The National Aquarium is federally permitted and part of a network of nationally recognized facilities that respond to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles.

Jennifer moved to Baltimore to become a full-time animal rescue volunteer at the National Aquarium in 2004. She was offered a full-time staff position 10 months later, and was promoted to director of the program in 2017. She is currently a professional fellow with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a member of the Greater Atlantic Region Stranding Consortium, co-coordinator for Maryland sea turtle response for the National Marine Fisheries Service Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, and a member of the Maryland Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.

Jennifer holds a bachelor's degree in earth and environmental sciences from Wilkes University and a master's degree in environmental science and policy from Johns Hopkins University.