News Release

Jewel Harris selected as superintendent of Cincinnati's national park

Date: October 12, 2021
Contact: Alexandra Picavet, 402-960-0688

OMAHA, Neb. — National Park Service (NPS) Regional Director Bert Frost announced the selection of Jewel Harris as superintendent of William Howard Taft National Historic Site, Ohio. She currently serves as Chief of Interpretation at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park. She will assume her new role mid-November. 

"We are pleased to welcome Jewel as the new superintendent," said Frost. “Her years of leadership experience building strong teams and collaborating with communities and partners will make her an outstanding superintendent for this park." 

“It's a great honor to be selected as superintendent of William Howard Taft National Historic Site,” Harris said about her appointment. “I look forward to collaborating with my new team; together we will work to expand our reach and strengthen our connections in the community. We will bring relevance to the park and transform it into a must-visit destination in southwest Ohio.”  

A 17-year veteran of the NPS, Harris has a wide range of leadership experiences in many parks including acting superintendent at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, deputy chief of interpretation at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, chief of interpretation at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and is currently chief of interpretation for Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park where she has served for nine years. She is a proud graduate of the National Park Service 2014 GOAL Leadership Academy. 

Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, William Howard Taft National Historic Site preserves the birthplace and boyhood home of William Howard Taft, the nation’s 27^th President and 10^th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Taft is the only person who has ever served as President of the U.S. and Chief Justice of the U.S. The site was established in 1969 to give the public an understanding of the environment that shaped his character and leadership philosophy.

Harris and her husband, Michael, along with son Santana and daughter Josie and their pets will continue to reside at their southwest Ohio home.