After high school, Erica Sipich ’07 Huffstodt was on the search for a small, nearby university that matched her values and nurtured her love of music. Hailing from Crown Point, Indiana, she was intrigued by the faith-based education offered at Valpo and had heard great things about the University from her high school teachers and others in the community. Knowing all of this made deciding where to spend her next four years easy. Once officially a Valpo student, Huffstodt majored in biology and minored in chemistry and French. As a flute player since age 12, much of her spare time was spent playing in the community band, even staying post-graduation, and attending any symphony concerts offered on campus.
The kindness, encouragement, and support of her professors changed Erica’s life. She credits Dr. Jeffrey Doebler as a major influence on her musical life, while ecology professor, Dr. Ebberhardt, helped shape her career in science.
After graduating from Valpo in May 2007, Huffstodt knew she wanted to work with animals. An avid Disney vacationer, Disney’s Animal Kingdom park felt like a great fit for her professional aspirations. As fate would have it, Disney had an opening in their professional internship program at the animal nutrition center at the park, and Huffstodt was accepted.
After spending six months in the internship program, Erica stayed on as an occasional cast member, visiting the park several times a year to work while still residing in Northwest Indiana. In 2012, she accepted a position as a zookeeper at the Michigan City Zoo in Michigan City, Indiana. After a few years, a full-time opening became available at the animal nutrition center at Animal Kingdom, and Huffstodt knew this was the time to make the move to Florida. In 2016, a temporary assignment working with primates unlocked a new passion in the animal world, and Huffstodt earned a full-time position with the primates in 2018, where she remains today.
In 2025, Erica earned the Walt Disney Legacy Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Disney cast member, with less than 1% of Disney employees earning the accolade. The nominations from her peers and leaders meant the most to Huffstodt, signifying the impact she’s had in her personal and professional relationships. Much to her surprise, on the day she was told of her award selection, Huffstodt’s husband, parents, and sister were in attendance.
Huffstodt’s experiences working with the animals born under her care always stand out as the most special to her. As of right now, a tiger cub and a baby gorilla have been born since her time at Animal Kingdom, and she shares that the connection she built with these animals is something she will never forget.
Erica is grateful for her time at Valpo and says she would not have a career she loves without her time at the University. She aims to create memories for the guests of Animal Kingdom that help them recognize the importance of conservation work and appreciate the animals at the park. To anyone interested in following in her footsteps, she reminds them that it’s possible to live their dreams, no matter how big they might be.
