Jewel Harris is the superintendent of William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Cincinnati, Ohio – a unit of the National Park Service (NPS). 

Prior to arriving at the Taft boyhood home, Jewel served as the director of interpretation, communication and education at Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio (2012-2021). Originally from Washington, D.C., she earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of the District of Columbia in 2010. 

Jewel started her federal career with the National Institutes of Health in 2002 but has been a career NPS employee since 2004 where she began as a program assistant. She quickly moved into her first park ranger (interpreter) role at Great Falls Park (Virginia) in 2006, and in 2011, transitioned to her first leadership role as director of interpretation at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia.

“I credit past NPS detail opportunities with broadening my professional portfolio,” she explains. This includes time spent as acting superintendent at the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument in Wilberforce, Ohio, acting superintendent at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe, Ohio, acting director of communications at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, and acting chief of interpretation with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area family of parks. 

In her free time, Jewel enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, son, Santana (8), daughter, Josie (4), and gardening.

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