Joan Embery

Who is Joan Embery?

Joan Embery is an animal and environmental advocate. A Trustee of the Morris Animal Foundation, a professional Fellow of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and a member of the Advisory Board of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine's Wildlife Health Center, she founded the American Association of Zoo Keepers. The goodwill ambassador to the San Diego Zoo's Zoological Society of San Diego for 32 years, she has hosted educational series "Animal Express", "Animals of Africa", and "Baby Panda and Challenge to Wildlife Specials for Public Broadcasting". She has raised awareness of animals and wildlife conservation through her books, tours, projects, and appearances on such shows as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Entertainment Tonight, ALF, The Phil Donahue Show, Newhart, Hollywood Squares, Win, Lose or Draw, Gary Shandling, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Xuxa, Leeza, Kidsongs and PM Magazine.

In addition to being an environmental activist, Embery is a skilled horsewoman who has won many awards.

Embery studied zoology and telecommunications at San Diego State University before earning a bachelor of arts degree in communication at Eastern Illinois University. She lives with her husband Duane Pillsbury on Pillsbury Ranch, a 50-acre ranch in Lakeside, California home to show horses, wildlife ambassadors, native wildlife, and personal pets.