Part of a series of articles titled Women of the National Park Service.
Article • Women of the National Park Service
In the Field with the Women of the National Park Service
Often, when people think of the National Park Service, they think about the folks in uniform working directly with the public. But if you look beyond the areas the public usually visits, you will find lots of NPS staff. Here you can learn about some of the women who are working out in the field as biologists, archaeologists, historic preservationists, geologists, fire scientists, and others.
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Biological Science TechnicianDenise AmadorDenise monitors vegetation at John Muir National Historic Site. Part of her job is to remove invasive plants so native plants can thrive.
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Coastal EcologistJessica CressmanJessica researches the plants and animals of salt marshes. She looks at the effects of climate change and storms as part of her work.
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Night Skies Research ScientistLi-Wei HungLi-Wei is part of an NPS team that studies the night sky. Part of that study uses special photographic equipment.
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EngineerKelly KachurakEven though she works in an NPS Regional Office as a Project Manager, sometimes Kelly needs to go out in the field to inspect work.
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Fire ScientistSherry LeisSherry studies the role of fire on the ecology of grasslands and prairie. She also works to manage these areas using prescribed burns.
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Hydrologic TechnicianAngela PincetichAngela's work as a hydrologic technician is part of a long-term water quality monitoring program for National Parks in the Bay Area.
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Wildlife VeterinarianJenny PowersPart of wildlife veterinarian Jenny Powers' job is to find out why sometimes large numbers of wild animals in parks are sick or dying.
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GardenerAnna SpencerAnna studied agriculture and animal science in school. She applies her knowledge as a gardener at Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works.
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EntomologistJessica RykkenJessica collects and studies bugs at Denali. Here you can learn about her career and how she prepares bees for permanent collection.
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Condor Crew LeaderAlacia WelchAlicia works with the condors at Pinnacles National Park.
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Avian EcologistEmily WilliamsEmily studies birds and their habitats in Denali National Park.
More Women of the NPS who Work In the Field
Showing results 1-10 of 58
- Type: Person
- Locations: Colonial National Historical Park, Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Offices: Archeology Program
Jean Carl Harrington, often called “J.C.” or Pinky, and Virginia Sutton Harrington were two pioneering National Park Service archeologists. They excavated important archeological sites, established professional associations, traveled across the world, and even continued to excavate after retirement. J.C. and Virginia collaborated at Jamestown, and Fort Raleigh and Fort Necessity. The couple also helped to establish the Eastern National Park and Monument Association.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Grand Teton National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Natchez Trace Parkway
- Offices: Wildland Fire Program
Cynthia Worthington is a fire effects monitor and has worked in several different units of the National Park Service during her career. The importance of collaboration with other fields and the built-in adaptability of fire programs is one of her favorite parts of working in fire that keeps her coming back.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield
- Offices: Wildland Fire Program
Sherry Leis, a plant and fire ecologist, shares her story about being a scientist and her love of prairie ecosystems.
- Capulin Volcano National Monument
Outside Science (inside parks): Interns in Capulin Volcano National Monument
- Type: Article
- Locations: Capulin Volcano National Monument
If you've ever completed an internship, you know that it can bring unanticipated opportunities...like banding hummingbirds at Capulin Volcano National Monument. Watch Cassi Hill explain how her internship kickstarted her career.
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Kat Smail - Range Technician
- Type: Article
- Locations: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Range Technician Kat Smail tells us about her roles as a scientist in the National Park Service for International Women's Day.
- Acadia National Park
Portraits of Acadia: Gail Gladstone
- Type: Article
- Locations: Acadia National Park
Gail Gladstone, cultural resource program manager
- Type: Article
- Locations: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Badlands National Park, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park
Although Badlands National Park is proud to employ many female paleontologists today, this scientific field was not always accepting of women. In this article, learn about how women's roles in paleontology have changed over years of Badlands research.
- Crater Lake National Park
Elizabeth L. Horn
- Type: Article
- Locations: Crater Lake National Park
For nearly six decades Elizabeth L. Horn, a plant ecologist, has been connected to Crater Lake National Park. She began what she called her “long love affair with this fascinating landscape” during the 1960s.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Geraldine Kenui Bell, better known as Geri, was the first Native Hawaiian woman to be superintendent of a National Park Service (NPS) unit – in fact, she oversaw the operation of two different parks in Hawai‘i simultaneously.
- Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Julie A. Meachen
- Type: Article
- Locations: Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Julie A. Meachen is a pathbreaking vertebrate paleontologist and morphologist who studies mammalian carnivores and megafauna from the late Pleistocene period (10,000 years ago) to the present day.
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women of the nps in the field
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Last updated: November 16, 2023