Volunteers vs. Interns

Ever wonder what the true difference is between a volunteer and intern? Utilizing both interns and volunteers is incredibly beneficial to an agency, but it’s important to know what the laws and best practices are in order to have the most effective program in place.

This workshop with have a panel of representatives from different local colleges and universities who will discuss the benefits and details of their programs. The discussion will be led by DOVIA-LA member, Sean D. Devereaux, Manager of Volunteer Services at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

When: Friday, July 17th 9:30am-12pm

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Sean D. Devereaux, Manager of Volunteer Services, Aquarium of the Pacific

Sean D. Devereaux is the Manager of Volunteer Services at the Aquarium of the Pacific. His nonprofit career path began in 1998 when he made the fateful decision to accept a position at the Aquarium as a Volunteer Aquarist. He was soon thereafter hired as an employee and spent a decade working with the animal collection at the Aquarium of the Pacific, specializing in the husbandry of Northern Pacific fish, invertebrates and diving birds. During this period, Sean worked closely with the volunteers and interns in the Husbandry Department as their departmental liaison. This provided Sean a firm foundation of informal volunteer management and allowed him to transition seamlessly into his role as the Manager of Volunteer Services in 2007. Sean is proud to have doubled the capacity of the volunteer program in the few years that he has held this position, boasting the annual participation of over 1600 volunteers and interns working in nearly every department at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Sean received his Bachelor’s Degree in Cultural Anthropology from Kent State University, with minors in Comparative Religion and Philosophy.Sean is a 2014 graduate of the Leadership Long Beach program.He served four years on the board of DOVIA-LA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies).

Sean is currently the Vice Chair of the AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Annual Conference Program Committee and is also an active member of the AZA Volunteer Management Committee.

Sean volunteers in his free time as a teen mentor with the Long Beach non-profit, Operation Jump Start. And finally, he is also the proud father of 3 adopted Chihuahuas.