Ricardo Stanoss, D.V.M, is the director for conservation capacity at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Dr. Stanoss works with a team of scientists and educators in the development and implementation of cutting-edge learning experiences to increase conservation capacity among emerging leaders and conservation practitioners both nationally and internationally. 

Before this position, Dr. Stanoss was the Head of the Center for Learning Innovation at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. In this position, Dr. Stanoss was responsible for all the activities at the Center, including the volunteer program, public education programs, school programs and distance learning programs. 

Over his career, Dr. Stanoss worked in grassroots conservation with rural and indigenous communities in Latin America. Before arriving at the Smithsonian, he ran an innovative conservation capacity development program at a zoo in the Chicago area. During his career path as a passionate conservationist and educator, Dr. Stanoss amassed significant experience in creating, implementing and evaluating novel conservation capacity initiatives, developing successful collaborations with academia, NGOs, government agencies and communities across vastly different cultures around the world.

Dr. Stanoss graduated as a veterinarian at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. After briefly working with dairy cows, he migrated to the United States, where he became interested in wildlife conservation and what makes it possible. Through his work in the U.S. and around the world, Dr. Stanoss gradually expanded his interests from the animals he loves to the individuals who could make a difference in conservation.