Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Jen completed a B.S. in Animal Science at Colorado State University, an M.S. in Zoology with a focus on nutritional ecology at Oklahoma State University, and a PhD in Animal Nutrition at Mississippi State University. After completing her doctoral research on giant panda dietary management at the Memphis Zoo, she worked as an Associate Nutritionist at the San Diego Zoo for 5 years, followed by 4 years at the Denver Zoo as Nutritionist and director of the nutrition program. Since early 2018 she's been a Senior Nutritionist in technical support, research and development, and formulation and ingredient strategy with Mazuri Exotic Animal Nutrition. In her free time, she and her husband enjoy spoiling their two cats, rooting for the 49ers, and enjoying the waterfront and surrounding nature of the San Francisco Bay Area.