Ami Ghazala Named Chief of Interpretation and Education

Ami Ghazala

NPS

News Release Date: May 23, 2012

Contact: John Stoudt, 315.568.2991 ext 3004

Seneca Falls, NY - Women's Rights National Historical Park is pleased to announce that Noemi "Ami" Ghazala has been selected to lead the park's Interpretation and Education division. Ms. Ghazala, a native of New York City with ten years of experience with the National Park Service (NPS), will be instrumental in helping the park during the month of July and will officially relocate to the Finger Lake region mid-August.

Superintendent Tammy Duchesne commented, "Ami is a perfect fit for Women's Rights National Historical Park. She is dynamic, creative, forward thinking and knows that for the NPS to be relevant for its next 100 years we must engage our local communities, become educational resources for schools and life-long learners, incorporate new technologies, and commit to reaching new and diverse audiences. Ami has been incredibly successful in doing this in several National Parks and we know she will bring this vision, leadership, and energy to the park and community."

Ms. Ghazala's NPS journey started at the Statue of Liberty National Monument/Ellis Island Immigration Museum where she spotlighted the forgotten stories of "The Island of Hope/The Island of Tears".In 2007, she wrote a children's book called, "From Many Lands, The Ellis Story".

In 2008, she transferred to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, located in the Greater New Orleans area.As Education Coordinator and later District Supervisor, she focused efforts on partnering with local schools to bring urban children to their local national park, working closely with low-performing schools and communities-of-color.

Ms. Ghazala was promoted to Chief of Education and Resource Management at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in 2010.In Dayton, she worked closely with legislated park partners to reopen African American poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar's home to the public.Additionally, she placed high-priority on the NPS' role in community work. Ami was also instrumental in reaching out to local universities to provide meaningful internships that benefited both students and the park.

A graduate of St. John's University, Ami traveled overseas as a freelance photojournalist focusing much of her writing on women's issues.Other private sector experiences include published writings and photo-essays in Egypt, managing a small business in New York City, and teaching overseas and in the United States.

Ms. Ghazala said, "I am very excited to transfer to Women's Rights NHP, a unique park that offers exceptionalopportunities to highlight issues that are relevant today."Ms. Ghazala is fluent in Spanish and conversant in French and Arabic. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, live theater, museums, music, and independent films.