National Park welcomes new Deputy Chief of Resource Education

GSMNP - Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash announced that Stephanie F. Kyriazis has been selected as the new Deputy Chief of Resource Education. Stephanie most recently served as the Chief of Interpretation and Education for Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, VT and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, NH.

	Stephanie Kyriazis

At Marsh-Billings and Saint-Gaudens, Stephanie’s work focused on expanding recreational opportunities, particularly for new users and underserved audience; inclusive storytelling; and cultivating community partnerships. With the NPS Stewardship Institute, housed at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP, Stephanie has led science communication workshops, participated in extensive facilitation training, and supported evaluation of regional teacher professional development programs. In spring of 2019, Stephanie served in a three-month detail as Acting Chief of Resource Education at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which introduced her to the people, partners, and places associated with the park.

"Stephanie brings proven leadership; expertise in her field of discipline; and rich work experiences, which will be of tremendous benefit to the park's management team and to the dedicated park educators and interpreters,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. "Stephanie's familiarity with the Smokies has positioned her well to seamlessly continue in leading the great work being done by the rangers in the Resource Education Division. We anxiously look forward to having Stephanie and her family move to the Smokies."

Stephanie has been with the National Park Service for 15 years. She started her career as a geology intern at Bryce Canyon National Park. She served as an education ranger at Death Valley National Park and Acadia National Park, where she introduced citizen science projects into park education programs. As the Chief of Interpretation and Education at Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, Stephanie deepened the park’s relationship with the local school district, coordinated events associated with the 60th anniversary of the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision that mandated school desegregation, and collaborated on a community-wide initiative to commemorate the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956. Stephanie’s professional passions include science communication, youth engagement, and equity work.

“The incredible biologically diversity, human stories, and recreational opportunities that characterize Great Smoky Mountains National Park offer unique opportunities for education, connection, and enjoyment,” said Stephanie Kyriazis, “I am eager to collaborate with park staff, partners, volunteers, visitors, and community members to protect and share this unparalleled place.”

As the daughter of an Air Force officer and a nurse, Stephanie moved frequently as a child. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics from UCLA and a master’s degree in Resource Interpretation from Stephen F. Austin State University. She is married to Justin Sochacki, who also works for the National Park Service. The couple have a seven-year-old son. Stephanie will begin her new assignment at the Smokies on July 19, 2020.

Published July 12, 2020