Bringing the Ocean to Atlanta- The Story of Georgia Aquarium

In late 2005 Georgia Aquarium opened its doors, beginning a sequence of unprecedented success that would impact downtown Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the world beyond. Timothy J. Mullican, DVM, Senior VP, Georgia Aquarium, will give us a look at the visionary concept, history and future of the world’s most successful Aquarium.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, he is involved with strategic partnerships with other zoological, governmental and academic entities, including both federal and state regulatory agencies. With more than 35 years of experience in a wide variety of veterinary, administrative and business positions, Dr. Mullican also represents Georgia Aquarium’s interests to external accreditation organizations, as well as serving as a member of the research and conservation committee.

Dr. Mullican graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in biology and holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. He credits the AQUAVET program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with providing the inspiration, training and professional contacts that formed the foundation for his career in aquatic animal medicine and public aquarium operations.

This path began in 1997 at the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky where he served as consulting veterinarian. He was tabbed as Executive Director in 2002, a position he held until 2005. He then served as a consultant for developer Colliers International on the never built Puerto Rico National Aquarium project in San Juan. He came to Georgia Aquarium in February 2008.

He holds the position of Adjunct Professor at University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is a certified scuba diver and maintains a special research interest in giant manta rays.