Meet The Team

As Executive Director of the South Plains Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Sarah oversees all aspects of daily operations—from managing animal care and intakes to guiding staff, interns, and volunteers. She plays a central role in coordinating educational programs, organizing outreach events, and ensuring every animal, whether in rehabilitation or part of the ambassador team, receives the best possible care. Her strong leadership and genuine compassion help the center run smoothly and maintain its welcoming, mission-driven environment.

Sarah earned her B.S. in Natural Resources Management from Texas Tech University in 2017 and later worked as a Wildlife Officer for the City of Austin, gaining valuable experience in environmental management and conservation enforcement. After returning to Lubbock, she reconnected with SPWRC to continue her work in wildlife rehabilitation and education, combining her passion for animals with her belief in second chances.

Since rejoining SPWRC, Sarah has helped expand programs like Into the Wild summer camp and strengthened the center’s outreach across the community. Her dedication, patience, and warmth continue to guide the team and inspire everyone who works alongside her.

Emmah is a student at Texas Tech University majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She has worked with animals her entire life and began volunteering with wildlife at just 15 years old in Houston, Texas. After taking a short break when she started college, she joined SPWRC three years ago and quickly worked her way up through dedication, knowledge, and a strong passion for wildlife care. She finds rehabilitation deeply rewarding and loves the challenge and purpose that come with helping animals most people never get the chance to handle.

As Lead Facility Manager, Emmah oversees staff and interns, ensures every animal receives proper care, and medically treats both raptors and other native wildlife. She’s involved in every part of the center’s operations—from daily feedings and medical treatments to educational programs and rescues—and is often the first to respond when animals need help. Emmah is also the Lead Raptor Trainer and oversees all of the training and enrichment that better the lives of our non-releasable raptors. Her steady leadership and compassion make her an essential part of the SPWRC team and a driving force behind its mission.

Reid discovered his passion for wildlife at a young age. Growing up on a ranch, he was surrounded by animals daily, and encounters with wildlife were a normal part of life. Over time, his curiosity about the natural world and the wild, non-domestic animals we share it with grew into a deep commitment to understanding and protecting them. Since joining SPWRC, that interest has evolved into a strong passion for wildlife rehabilitation and conservation, shaping the path he plans to pursue for his future career.

As a manager and lead trainer, Reid oversees daily operations and animal care at the center. His work includes training raptors, caring for bird, mammal, and reptile patients, and guiding staff, interns, and volunteers to ensure high standards of care. He also takes part in educational programs and outreach events that promote conservation and awareness. Whether on or off shift, Reid can often be found at the center providing enrichment for the ambassador animals and helping them thrive. His role blends leadership, animal care, and education to further SPWRC’s mission of giving wildlife a second chance and inspiring the community to protect it.

Brooklyn is studying Natural Resource Management with a focus in Wildlife Bioogy at South Plains College. Her lifelong love for animals grew into a deeper passion after joining SPWRC, where she discovered how meaningful it is to care for wildlife that have no one else to rely on. She finds purpose in knowing that every effort, no matter how small, contributes to the recovery and survival of native species, and she especially enjoys seeing animals progress through rehabilitation and return to the wild.

As Weekend Manager, Brooklyn oversees interns and volunteers, ensuring daily operations run smoothly and every animal receives proper care and attention. She also works closely with several of SPWRC’s ambassador birds, helping to train and socialize them for educational programs. Brooklyn hopes to make a lasting difference in wildlife conservation by combining her hands-on experience with her studies in rehabilitation and ecology. She’s passionate about inspiring others to appreciate and protect the wildlife that makes Texas unique.

Cameron first joined SPWRC in April 2024 as a volunteer, and it didn’t take long for everyone to realize how important he was to the team. His strong work ethic, kindness, and positive attitude quickly made him an essential part of the center. Now serving as our Facility Maintenance Lead, Cameron helps keep SPWRC running smoothly by repairing enclosures, maintaining the grounds, building structures, and assisting with daily animal care whenever needed.

Beyond his maintenance work, Cameron has a genuine love for animals and often spends time with our wildlife ambassadors, especially Flappy, who has formed a special bond with him. His dedication, compassion, and teamwork reflect the heart of SPWRC. Cameron plays a major role in keeping the center safe, functional, and welcoming for both wildlife and people.

Bella is studying Biology with a concentration in Natural Resource Management and Wildlife Biology at Texas Tech University. Originally entering college as a pre‑vet major, she quickly realized that chemistry wasn’t her calling—but wildlife absolutely was. Her lifelong love for animals, especially endangered species like big cats, elephants, rhinos, and raptors, inspired her to pursue a path focused on conservation and hands‑on wildlife care.

As a Manager at SPWRC, Bella helps oversee daily operations, supporting interns and volunteers while ensuring that every animal receives attentive, compassionate care. She enjoys working closely with both rehabilitation patients and ambassador animals, finding fulfillment in the small victories—whether it’s an animal taking its first steps toward recovery or a guest learning something new about wildlife.

Bella hopes to build a career working with large endangered species and contributing to global conservation efforts. Her passion, curiosity, and dedication shine through in everything she does, and she strives to inspire others to protect the wildlife and ecosystems that make our world extraordinary.