Dr. Peyton West is Executive Director of Frankfurt Zoological Society – U.S., the American partner of Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), an international conservation organization dedicated to conserving biodiversity in some of the world’s most ecologically important protected areas and landscapes. For more than a decade, Peyton has led efforts to build awareness, partnerships, and support for FZS in the United States.

Peyton began her scientific career studying lions in Tanzania and Kenya with the Serengeti Lion Project. Her doctoral research explored lion social behavior, including groundbreaking work on the evolutionary function of the lion’s mane. She has authored and co-authored scientific papers, book chapters, and popular articles on lion ecology and conservation.

Before joining FZS-US, Peyton worked at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where she led initiatives to strengthen engagement between scientific and religious communities. She also held positions at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo Mammal Department and the Bell Museum of Natural History.

Peyton holds a BA in English from Yale University and a PhD in Ecology from the University of Minnesota. Originally from New York City, she now lives in Washington, DC, with her family.