Patricia Simmons
Patricia Simmons was a highly respected zoo director within the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) prior to her death on July 14, 2025, following a lengthy battle with cancer. She had more than 41 years of experience leading AZA-accredited zoos: the Akron Zoo in Ohio from 1985 to 2014 and the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro from 2015 to 2025.
Pat was nationally and internationally recognized in the industry, receiving numerous awards and appointments in support of wildlife conservation, sustainability, and women in leadership roles, including Women’s History Project Woman of the Year for Imagination and the first non-profit executive to receive the Chairman’s Award from the Visitor and Convention Bureau. She was Chairwoman of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2012, and was appointed to the Board of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) from 2015 to 2021. Most recently, Pat became one of 100 hand-selected CEO’s worldwide to be a Founding Fellow of the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, a program designed to tackle global challenges for non-profit organizations.
Pat was renowned as a decisive, courageous, and visionary leader. She spearheaded Vision (2016) and Master Planning (2018 and 2024-2025) for the North Carolina Zoo. Out of these plans, Pat established an upcoming decade of growth for the Zoo, starting with Asia. The 12.5-acre Asia region will open in June 2026, the first major expansion at the North Carolina Zoo since 1994. Australia, the next continent, is fully funded and slated to open in 2029. The replacement Aviary/Amazon, which is partially funded, completes this period of continent expansion at the North Carolina Zoo. These vibrant new habitats, which will feature some of the world’s most extraordinary animals and plants, will be cherished for generations to come.
Pat’s mission was to inspire people to be stewards of the natural world and protect the diversity of animals and plants. Towards this, she prioritized the interconnections between humans, plants, and animals through modern habitat design, award-winning educational programming, and memorable guest experiences. Under her leadership, the North Carolina Zoo’s lauded wildlife conservation program has flourished on a global scale. The North Carolina Zoo also took the top award for Sustainability from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2021. In 2024, the North Carolina Zoo became a certified Botanical Garden through Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BCGI), a longtime dream for the Zoo.
To know Pat was to love her. She was a force to be reckoned with, and she made a significant impact during her tenure at the North Carolina Zoo. Those who worked with Pat described her as immensely funny, smart, and loved by many. She was a sought-after mentor and counselor, helping many find their true passion.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Zoo will continue to celebrate Pat and her many positive contributions to our natural world. Her legacy in the zoo community will carry on through those she touched throughout her lifetime.