Shawn Garrison

Shawn Garrison joined the National Aquarium in 2023 as the director of guest services. He oversees a diverse team comprised of people from Guest Services, Security, Custodial, the 4D Immersion Theater and the Immotion Virtual Reality attraction. Together, he and these 75 employees help make the Aquarium's day-to-day guest-facing operations run smoothly and ensure each guest has a great experience.

Shawn's career in the nonprofit field has taken him across the country, from the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, where he got his start, to the Dallas Zoo in Dallas, Texas, where he was the park services manager. As park services manager, he helped oversee parking, ticketing, attractions, and custodial and audio-visual operations—a valuable experience he has applied to his current role at the Aquarium. Shawn holds a bachelor's degree in history and a minor in geology from the University of Akron.