Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge announces Kara Zwickey has been hired as as the new visitor center manager at the refuge’s headquarters, Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. 

She replaces Marianne Aplin, who was promoted to visitor services supervisor for the refuge.  Zwickey will coordinate day-to-day operations of the visitor center and work with refuge partners to continue the role of Islands and Ocean as a conservation hub for Homer.

She brings eight years of experience working in education and outreach positions on national wildlife refuges in the Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her job duties there have given her experience in working with volunteers, youth education, visitor center operations, and in a variety of partnerships.

Zwickey and her husband, Seth Spencer, both have master’s degrees in environmental education from the University of Minnesota. Spencer will be working for the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

Spencer is an avid skier and birder. Zwickey enjoys hiking, photography, birding and exploring the outdoors.