National Zoo welcomes new director

It may have been hard to spot in the flurry headlines about Snowmageddon and traffic meltdowns, but the National Zoo welcomed a new director this month.

Dennis W. Kelly, 56, formerly president of Zoo Atlanta, began work Friday, overseeing operations at the 163-acre zoo as well as its facility in Front Royal, Va.

In six years as president at Zoo Atlanta, Kelly raised more than $40 million in public and private funds. Kelly also strengthened the facility's education programs and assisted in developing education departments in dozens of zoos in China.

And no worries, panda lovers -- Kelly is well acquainted with all that is panda. Zoo Atlanta was home to Mei Lan, a 3-year-old female panda who was on the same flight to China as her cousin Tai Shan.