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�ճ�����’s a lot to do when a newborn is on the way, from doctor appointments to nursery set-up and more. But when that baby is 308 pounds and 21 months in the making, preparations rise to a new level. Born in February, Linh Mai is the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s first Asian elephant calf in nearly 25 years, and George Mason alumna Ashley Fortner, BS Integrative Studies ’17, has been there every rambunctious step of the way.  

An Elephant Trails keeper with the National Zoo since 2019, she’s formed close bonds with the herd of now seven elephants, but she’d never worked with a calf. “It still doesn’t feel real,” she said. “Linh Mai is perfect.”  

Like any newborn, Linh Mai requires around-the-clock care, including a bottle every two hours. Fortner and other keepers rotate through three 10-hour shifts each day. And every day is different. “She just learned how to trumpet,” Fortner said. “I think she surprised herself when she did it.” 

The birth of a baby elephant is a notable event for more than just sheer cuteness. Fortner explained that most female elephants in the United States are past the age for bearing a calf. “They typically only have one [calf] at a time… so it's a very long involved process for hopefully one single payout for an entire species.” 

Fortner and the rest of the team started preparing long in advance, but challenges along the way forced them to be nimble and adapt. When first-time mother Nhi Linh and grandmother Trong Nhi did not immediately accept Linh Mai, herd mate Swarna stepped in and formed a close bond with the baby. Fortner said neither situation was part of their playbook and keepers had to quickly switch gears. 

“You write a whole plan and then the moment comes and everything goes differently,” Fortner said. “We were very adaptable because we had to work with where Nhi Linh’s willingness was and where she was in her pregnancy.” 

Fortner’s journey to her current role shows her perseverance and an openness to curiosity. She arrived at George Mason in 2013 and immediately felt right at home.  

“[George Mason has] so many little pockets of different things that you can investigate and find out where you fit, like specialized programs and all the learning communities. It just felt like a different college experience, and I really liked that.”  

She also benefited from the specialized learning style she found within the . “That classroom style of big discussions and papers worked really well for me.” 

But the one-time journalism major was unsure about her future career path. A chance sighting of a flyer for the gave her the answer. “There's nothing like waking up in the middle of a conservation biology institute…. I got the opportunity to do practicum experiences where you get to work in the field with researchers to kind of get your feet wet and see what you like to do.” 

SMSC made such an impact on Fortner that she ended up spending two semesters at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, home of the SMSC. “I didn’t know if I would go the keeper route or if I wanted to be a researcher,” she said. Through her practicums, she gained hands-on experience in both.  

But she was hungry for more. “I was just looking to continue doing cool projects and get involved,” Fortner says.  

She connected with Associate Professor Elizabeth Freeman, PhD Environmental Science and Public Policy '05, now also SMSC’s interim executive director, and began helping on a project to monitor red panda behavior. “She’s been a really pivotal player in my career, has always been a big supporter,” Fortner said of Freeman. 

As Fortner neared graduation, she took on internships working with rhinos in Florida, hoofstock in Texas, and then—fatefully—elephants in Dallas. When an opportunity came to work at the National Zoo, Fortner was ready. “I like to think that elephants chose me. Everything lined up so perfectly, and I can’t imagine working with anything else.” 

Fortner has continued engaging with SMSC, mentoring students and working with them on research projects and data analysis that can directly influence elephant care. “�ճ�����’s just endless questions and research that we could do to help better take care of the elephants every day. We can offer that [research] experience and it’s mutually beneficial…for students, but for us, too.” 

SMSC agrees. In fall 2025, their faculty awarded Fortner their first-ever alumni PEACE (Passion, Engagement, and Achievement in Conservation and Ecology) prize. In their citation, faculty noted that “Fortner’s passion and energy and commitment to conservation have been consistent as long as she's been connected with our programs, and it's an inspiration to see her sharing those with the newer cohorts of students.” 

"I recall many conversations with Ashley a decade ago about her interests in becoming an elephant keeper at the National Zoo,” said Freeman. “It’s fun seeing her capitalize upon her education to make her dream come true. We are fortunate to have her continued involvement with SMSC where she is creating similar opportunities for our current students."  

Linh Mai made her public debut on April 22. Like any proud family member, Fortner was excited for the moment and aware of the significance. “This might be the only way some people see elephants in their lifetime.”