National Park Service Regional Director Mike Reynolds announced the selection of Kayci Cook Collins as superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park and Yucca House National Monument in Colorado. She assumed the role Aug. 29.
The position also supervises the superintendent of Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Aztec Ruins National Monument.
“Kayci is well known for her collaborative and transparent style and she has a great understanding of the complexities of managing group parks,” said Reynolds in a news release. “Her commitment to employee engagement, deep passion for the National Park Service, and experience with Tribal relationships make her a great fit for the position.”
Collins has more than 35 years of National Park Service experience and served as the superintendent of the Flagstaff Area National Monuments in Arizona for the past seven years. She previously served as superintendent and deputy superintendent at parks in New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. She also worked for the Alaska Regional Office as the Alaska Desk Officer and in Washington D.C. as a legislative affairs specialist. Collins received her bachelor's degree in Recreation Resource Management from Northern Arizona University.
“I am thrilled to be joining the excellent team of employees, volunteers and partners who care for Mesa Verde National Park and Yucca House National Monument,” said Collins in the news release. “I also look forward to working with the many traditionally associated tribes for whom the park and monument are important landscapes. The cultural resources and dramatic scenery of Mesa Verde have captivated me since I was a child, often visiting my grandparents who lived and worked in the park. It is an honor to return as the superintendent.”
Collins’ maternal grandfather worked at Mesa Verde and Chaco Culture, and her father worked at Chaco Culture. She enjoys hiking, reading, baking and spending time with her son Sean Collins, a junior at University of Arizona.
For more information, visit www.nps.gov/meve and www.nps.gov/yuho.
