National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin announced the selection of Pauline “Polly" Angelakis as superintendent of North Carolina’s Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, effective May 13.
“Polly has a solid background in literary studies, interpretation and civic engagement that seems ideal for managing Carl Sandburg’s home," Austin said. “She will be a great addition to the park and surrounding community."
Angelakis considers her new appointment a “dream job" for an English major: “Carl Sandburg’s writings demonstrate the power of the written word. He provided a voice for people who struggled to be heard. I’m excited to work with our staff, partners, and community members to promote this vital legacy."
Angelakis was inspired to become a park ranger after hiking through Hawaii's Haleakalā crater while in college. Since then, she has worked at eleven parks and two regional offices during her 30-year career with the National Park Service. She spent the first eight years as a seasonal employee and has worked as a frontline interpretive supervisor, volunteer coordinator, and education specialist. She later assumed positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as regional interpretive specialist and volunteer coordinator for the NPS National Capital Region, acting regional chief of interpretation for the Intermountain and National Capital Regions, and site manager for two sites administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Angelakis has been chief of interpretation at Haleakalā National Park since 2012 and also completed temporary assignments there as acting superintendent.
Her NPS career has also included time working at Acadia National Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, Everglades National Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Olympic National Park, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Shenandoah National Park, and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.
A Massachusetts native, Angelakis graduated cum laude from the University of Massachusetts in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is a 2007 graduate of the NPS Mid-level Management Development Program and a lifetime Girl Scouts member. She is married to Alan Willis, an electrical engineering consultant. The couple enjoys hiking, water sports, theater, volunteer work, and traveling. Both are excited about exploring the Southeast, moving closer to family, and experiencing more adventures with their nieces and nephews.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
