Alumni Spotlight

Abby Wines

Abby Wines has served our public lands for more than a decade through her career with the National Park Service.

While she currently is serving a four-month position as superintendent of Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, her primary assignment is management assistant at Death Valley National Park.

“Right now, my first focus is on keeping the employees in this park safe during COVID-19,” Wines said. “However, in a broader sense, my work supports the protection of natural and cultural resources in special places and enhances the public’s ability to enjoy and learn from those resources.

In her role at Death Valley National Park, Wines works with all park divisions on complex projects and manages public relations and external partnerships. One top priority is the repair of the park’s historic Scotty’s Castle, which was severely damaged during a flash flood.

“I’m proud of my part in the group effort to secure $54 million in funding for Scotty’s Castle rehabilitation,” Wines said. “I will be extremely proud when the historic district can reopen to the public.”

Wines also has served as chief of interpretation at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in earth and planetary sciences from John Hopkins University and a Master of Science in resource communications from SFA.

“My master’s degree from SFAexposed me to the academic underpinnings of my career field as an interpreter,” Wines said. “Learning about statistical and research methods has been useful in my current job as a superintendent.”

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