Many children and adults love going to the zoo to watch and play with the animals. For Valene Hautekeete, that is her career.

Hautekeete graduated from Iowa State in December 2005 with a degree in zoology and a minor in animal science.

“I grew up on a dairy farm, and I really enjoyed it,” Hautekeete said. “But I wanted to get out in the world a little bit more.”

Hautekeete started at Iowa State as a pre-vet student, but then changed to zoology as she learned more about the different fields.

“I feel I received a great education that set me up for whatever career I ended up with,” Hautekeete said. 

Hautekeete said the education she received at Iowa State contributed to finding a job she enjoys. She said she also searched job postings and worked through a lab temp agency.  

“During Thanksgiving break, I did interviews,” she said.

Through those job interviews is how Hautekeete got her first job at a small business called Healthy Coats, a horse supplement company, as an administrative assistant. She started working during her final semester, and worked there for about three months until the company moved.

Hautekeete said she then applied for a job at Blank Park Zoo. She accepted the job immediately, and began working there in April 2006.

During school, Hautekeete interned at the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, and the summer prior to graduating she interned at the Blank Park Zoo.

“Throughout that fall, whenever I had time I would volunteer [at Blank Park Zoo],” Hautekeete said. “So I always had a toe in the door there.”

At Blank Park Zoo, Hautekeete is taking care of Japanese macaques and lemurs. She said she checks up on their diets, trains them and handles their daily care. She also helps with big cats and African animals once a week or sometimes every other weeks.

“We recently went through a reorganization. The entire staff had to learn to care for new animals and work with new co-workers,” she said.

Hautekeete said learning to work with other animals was one of the most difficult things she had to do while working at the zoo. 

“I love working with the macaques,” she said.

Luckily for Hautekeete, in 2009, the zoo brought in three young male macaques from Canada to start a new breeding program. One of them is named Kitsy. Hautekeete herself trains Kitsy.

“It’s like working with a 5-year-old,” Hautekeete said. “Sure, they’ll play, but only if you have a good treat or if they’re in the mood to play.”

Hautekeete has some advice for all ISU students.

“Find internships and volunteer opportunities in areas that interest you,” she said. “Getting experience and making contacts is key.”