What was your First job?
My first park-related job was working for a summer with the Youth Conservation Corps on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I was on a crew of 7 or 8 teenagers who assisted with trail cleanup and maintenance, a rotation in the sign shop, and constructing screens around dumpsters at the Peaks of Otter. I was sixteen years old and I bought my first car from the money I made that summer--$750 for an old Toyota Tercel that lasted through college.
What got you interested in this industry?
I grew up in Virginia, and although my home has been South Carolina for far longer, my heart will always be at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains below the shadow of the Peaks of Otter. I grew up in a single parent household with a mother who worked full-time and had not time or money to waste. So we didn’t. We didn’t waste it on shopping, or movies, arcades, or restaurants. Our time was spent on adventure and our money was spent on gas for the car to get us to the campground or the trail.
What are you most looking forward to this coming year?
The first parcel of the linear Black River State Park will open to the public this year! Over the past few years, South Carolina State Parks has worked with numerous NGOs to purchase and conserve properties across the state. I was involved in the initial stakeholder meetings and Master Planning for a few of them, including Black River. To see this concept turn into an economic driver for the communities it flows through has been the most amazing thing to me. Come see us at The Meadows at Black River State Park this summer!
Any exciting projects you are working on that you would like to share?
I am nearing completion of the Certified Public Manager program, where my capstone project focused on developing a more comprehensive and effective knowledge‑transfer framework—including mentorship, onboarding, and expanded training opportunities. Building on that work, I am particularly enthusiastic about advancing the development of a comprehensive Ranger Academy that will integrate our currently dispersed trainings and establish a clear, structured progression for all employees. The Academy will offer core courses to strengthen foundational competencies, along with elective offerings designed to keep staff engaged, motivated, and continually growing within the park service.
What do you enjoy about your state?
One of South Carolina’s greatest advantages is its remarkable accessibility—you can travel from one end of the state to the other in a single day with ease. For a Park Director, that means attending a morning event at Table Rock in the mountains and an evening program at Myrtle Beach on the coast without missing a beat. And the beauty along the way is simply unparalleled. Mountains, lakes, pine forests, and the Atlantic shoreline—we truly have it all. What more could anyone ask for?
Highlight one or two state parks in your state and why we should visit.
What an unfair question! I’m all about the small gems that are lesser known. One of the most unforgettable paddling experiences in South Carolina awaits you at Goodale State Park in Camden. The canoe and kayak launch there leads you straight into a breathtaking cypress swamp—a world so serene and otherworldly that you’ll forget you’re only minutes from a major interstate.
And the magic doesn’t stop with the paddle. If you’re a birder or an amateur botanist, this place is a treasure trove. Keep your eyes sharp: you just might catch a flash of yellow from a prothonotary warbler or spot the delicate beauty of a sundew pitcher plant tucked among the wetlands. It’s the kind of adventure that rewards curiosity and leaves you wanting more.
Keowee Toxaway is another gem along the historic Highway 11 corridor in Pickens County. There is a beautiful 3-room cabin on Lake Keowee with a private dock that beckons you to take a swim in the warmer months. While you’re there book an experience with Upstate Zipline and experience the mountains from all new heights. If you prefer to stay grounded, you can always hike through the historic lands of the Cherokee Indian. The Natural Bridge (1.3 miles) or Raven Rock (4.4 mile loop) offer you a pleasant place to connect with the gorgeous foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Most memorable moments in your career
Some of my most meaningful moments in this career have been those when my family has been able to see me in action—whether I was delivering a program for visitors, felling a tree, or even painting a building (many of which I did while pregnant). I am deeply committed to challenging outdated notions of “women’s work” and “men’s work,” and I see it as an important responsibility to model that for the next generation—while offering a reminder to the current one as well.
What are you reading?
Fiction, always fiction. I love getting lost in a book. While I will listen to TED talks and leadership podcasts, I use my reading time to disconnect and disengage from work. Currently reading The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai.
Where is your next vacation?
I’m still carrying the joy from last year’s trip to Edinburgh, Scotland—it was truly unforgettable. This year, though, I think a simple beach trip with the whole family is exactly what we need. Now that two of our four children are out of the house and in college, those moments when we can all be together have become rarer—and all the more meaningful.
Hobbies?
I’ve always loved working with my hands—whether it’s gardening, creating art, crafting, or restoring furniture. I’ve experimented with vegetable gardening but have found the most success and joy in cultivating flowering plants.
Art has also become a meaningful way for me to connect with my four children. I love watching them discover something new about themselves during a relaxed coloring or watercolor session, or through small entrepreneurial projects—like spray‑painting wine bottles for a bottle garden and selling them at our local Ag & Art event each year..
Nickname?
I have lots of family nicknames that I will not mention, but the funny thing about having a short name is that it gets lengthened as a nickname. Cool thing about my real name—Joy—it was my great-grandfather's name.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud?
We recently played Ransom Notes with my 15 year old and his two friends. I won’t tell you what the prompt was, but to watch that team of teenage boys try to create an advertisement based on an inappropriate prompt that they were going to have to read out loud in front of me and my husband was absolutely hilarious.
A Poem, line of poetry, or quote that I return to.
“The cure for anything is salt water. Sweat, tears, or the ocean.”
— Isak Dinesen
Fun fact: Isak Dinesen is a pen name for Danish author, Baroness Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke (born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962)
My favorite blockbuster and favorite movie.
I will watch any genre, other than Horror, as long as the acting is quality. South Carolina has been the home of so many great flicks, including Forest Gump—anything with Tom Hanks is a guaranteed win!
A song, band or musician I love.
My taste in music is all over the map—I’m drawn to powerful lyrics and strong vocals, which is why artists like Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls resonate so deeply with me. I also grew up listening to the classics: Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, the Doobie Brothers, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the Allman Brothers were the soundtrack of my childhood.
But truthfully, nothing compares to hearing my own children play. Whether it’s piano, marimba, euphonium, or violin, their music is my favorite of all. Fortunately, they didn’t inherit their musical abilities from me—I can’t play an instrument to save my life!
