Kenton Kerns is the Curator at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s Small Mammal House, where he oversees the management of the unit and its 150 animals. He coordinates the animal care, husbandry, and birth management programs for each of these species; organizes building and exhibit maintenance; and leads educational and research activities within the unit.

In addition to his responsibilities at the Zoo, he has served as chair of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Professional Development Committee, vice-chair of the Rodent Taxonomic Advisory Group, steering committee member of the New World Primate Taxonomic Advisory Group, president of the National Capital Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Species Survival Coordinator and Studbook Keeper for golden-headed lion tamarins, and board member for Save the Golden Lion Tamarin.

Kerns has a biology degree from American University and a master’s from George Mason University with a concentration in Zoo and Aquarium Leadership. He started as a volunteer in the Small Mammal House in 2007 and worked as a keeper for seven years and Assistant Curator for 10 years before becoming Curator.

Article

• Cole, Jordan E., Steeil, James C., Sarro, Steven J., Kerns, Kenton L., and Cartoceti, Andrew N. 2020. "Chordoma of the sacrum of an adult naked mole-rat." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 32, (1) 132–135. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638719894985. 2020
• Chau, Linh M., Groh, Amy M., Anderson, Emily C., Alcala, Micaela O., Mendelson, Joseph R., III, Slade, Stephanie B., Kerns, Kenton, Sarro, Steve, Lusardi, Clinton, and Goodisman, Michael A. D. 2018. "Genetic diversity and sex ratio of naked mole rat, Heterocephalus glaber, zoo populations." Zoo biology, 37, (3) 171–182. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21417. 2018
• Bauer, Kendra L., Steeil, James C., Adkins, Elizabeth A., Childress, April L., Wellehan,James F. X., Jr., Kerns, Kenton L., Sarro, Steven J., and Holder, Kali A. 2018. "Management of Ocular Human herpesvirus 1 Infection in a White‑faced Saki Monkey (Pithecia pithecia)." Comparative medicine, 68, (4) 319–323. https://doi.org/10.30802/AALAS-CM-17-000119. 2018
• McDonald, Coral, Kerns, Kenton, and Ball, Ashton. 2017. "An Example of Light Cycle Reversal with Brush-tailed Bettongs (Bettongia penicillata)." Animal Keepers’ Forum, 44, (1-2) 22–25. 2017
• Kerns, Kenton. 2016. "Golden Lion Tamarins: Help Track Tamarins in the Wild!." Animal Keepers’ Forum, 43, (11) 323–325. 2016
• Delaney, M. A., Ward, J. M., Walsh, Timothy F., Chinnadurai, S. K., Kerns, Kenton, Kinsel, M. J., and Treuting, P. M. 2016. "Initial Case Reports of Cancer in Naked Mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber)." Veterinary pathology, 53, (3) 691–696. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985816630796. 2016
• Delaney, M. A., Ward, J. M., Walsh, Timothy F., Chinnadurai, S. K., Kerns, Kenton, Kinsel, M. J., and Treuting, P. M. 2016. "Response to "Regarding Mole-rats and Cancer"." Veterinary pathology, 53, (6) 1266–1267. https://doi.org/10.1177/0300985816658773. 2016
• Kerns, Kenton, Parsell, Mattie, and Shaffer, Ashton. 2015. "Substrate Preference for Escape Trails in Short-eared Elephant Shrews." Animal Keepers’ Forum, 42, (5) 148–151. 2015
• Augustine, Lauren and Kerns, Kenton. 2012. "Are Waribashi worth it? The threat of disposable wooden chopsticks." Animal Keepers' Forum, (8) 386–388. 2012
• Kerns, Kenton and Schulze, Stephen. 2011. "Managing Meerkat Reintroductions: Keeping Peace in the House." Animal Keepers’ Forum, 38, (11) 560–564. 2011

Conference Paper

• Siegal-Willott, Jessica L., Walsh, Tim, Kerns, Kenton, Kendrick, Erin, and Sarro, Steven J. 2014. "Metastatic mineralization in four prehensile-tailed porcupines (Coendou prehensilis)." from AAZV Annual Conference. 148. (Orlando, Florida) 2014-10-18. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. 2014

Presentation

• Kenton, Kerns. 2024. Triple Threat: Ambassador Animals, On Exhibit, Participating in AZA Animal Programs, and Happy about it [presentation]. Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Meeting, September 17, 2024. Calgary, Canada.