Surfside Spotlight on Danielle Newton: Manager of Admissions

An Interview by Barbara Russo

Danielle Newton deals with the human side of things at the New York Aquarium. As the Manager of Admissions, she oversees the day-to-day on-site operations of the aquarium’s admissions departments. She’s not only her team’s supervisor, but a cheerleader who keeps them pumped and energized for the hundreds of thousands of visitors they greet each year.

 

Danielle, when did you start working for WCS?

I started working for WCS as Manger of Admissions at the Bronx Zoo in February, 2013. I moved to the aquarium in November the same year, so I wasn’t there that long! I love working at the aquarium because it’s smaller and I have a lot more responsibility.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I come in and check my email for exhibit closures, cancelled shows, or anything else I might need to tell my staff. Then I’m up in the lobby by 9:15 to brief my team on the day. We do a quick roll call before going over our cheers.

Wow that sounds interesting…what do you mean by cheers?

Each morning one of us picks an animal to be the name of our team for the day. I usually pick sea otters. Then, on the count of three we say as a group, “Goooo sea otters!” to get us ready and hyped for the day.

That’s really cool. Who came up with this idea?

I started the cheers at the Bronx Zoo and then brought it here. Mostly we use marine mammals that live at the aquarium, but it could be any animal!

What are some compliments you get from our visitors?

The Aquatheater show is a visitor favorite. They always tell me what a great job the trainers do. Visitors tell us we’re doing a great job restoring the aquarium since Sandy. We definitely get a lot of repeat members who just love it here! We recognize many of them and enjoy chatting and catching up with them.

What’s your favorite exhibit?

I love the sea otters. They are so active and cute. Although, I have to admit Halftime the sea lion is pretty great, too.

When you’re not hard at work at the aquarium, how do you like to spend your time?

I like to go to other cultural institutions. The American Museum of Natural History is a favorite. I love going to the movies, and I’m a foodie! My favorite food is the classic cheeseburger. I really like to find places known for their cheeseburgers, like the Shake Shack and the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. In my hometown of Miami, Fla., B & B is my favorite cheeseburger joint!