POWELL, OH – The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished Central Ohio leaders to its Board of Directors: Stacey Burbure, Senior Vice President of Transmission Regulatory Engagement and Compliance at American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEP), and Jessica Mayer, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Cardinal Health.

“Stacey and Jessica bring outstanding leadership experience and a deep commitment to service,” said Tom Schmid, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds. “Their perspectives and expertise will help guide the Zoo as we continue advancing our mission of empowering people and saving wildlife.”
 

Their experience will be especially valuable as the Zoo continues investing in long-term strategy, organizational stewardship, and the systems that support exceptional animal care, conservation outcomes, and guest experiences.
  

Stacey Burbure

Burbure is Senior Vice President of Transmission Regulatory Engagement and Compliance at American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEP), where she leads AEP’s regulatory and policy efforts at Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs). She currently serves on the Southwest Power Pool’s Members Committee for AEP and previously served as Vice President, FERC and RTO Strategy and Policy from 2023–2024. Burbure joined AEP in 2019 as senior counsel in the company’s legal department. Prior to AEP, she served as senior counsel to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and began her career in the energy field in 2003 in private practice. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and her law degree from George Washington University Law School.

Jessica Mayer

Mayer is Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Cardinal Health, where she oversees the company’s Legal, Compliance, Quality, and Regulatory departments. In this role, she leads all aspects of legal and compliance strategy, including Corporate Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions, Government Relations, and Commercial teams, and serves as a key advisor to executive leadership and the Board of Directors on legal, regulatory, and strategic matters. Prior to her current role, Mayer served as Cardinal Health’s corporate secretary and deputy general counsel, leading the company’s legal department. Before joining Cardinal Health, Mayer practiced pharmaceutical products liability litigation with Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, D.C., and earlier practiced commercial litigation in the Rocky Mountain region. She currently serves as chairperson of the board of directors for the Cardinal Health Political Action Committee (PAC) and chair of the Cardinal Health Foundation Board. Mayer graduated cum laude from Vassar College and summa cum laude from the University of Arizona College of Law.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Board of Directors provides oversight and guidance to ensure the Zoo continues to deliver on its mission and maintain the highest standards in animal care, education, and conservation.

For more information about the Columbus Zoo’s conservation initiatives, events, educational programs, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram,  TikTok, and LinkedIn, and visit us at www.ColumbusZoo.org.

About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 

Home to more than 600 animal species from around the world, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.