Rick Jenkins Joins ROVA Team as Program Manager for Visitor Experience and Community Outreach
Joining Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites as Program Manager for Visitor Experience and Community Outreach is a genuine joy, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity to help connect visitors with the enduring legacies of the Roosevelt and Vanderbilt families. It’s an honor to become part of a community so deeply committed to preserving and sharing these stories. I come to this role with a passion for creating meaningful, engaging connections to our National Parks, and I look forward to working with the FDR-Hyde Park Foundation and our many partners to continue expanding opportunities for visitors of all ages and backgrounds to learn from—and be inspired by—the remarkable places in our care.
Like so many others, my path to the Hudson River Valley began in New York City, where I worked at Gateway National Recreation Area beginning in 2014. Over the years, my wife, Hannah, and pup Daisy, have enjoyed spending weekends backpacking in the Catskills and discovering the many towns and villages along the Hudson, each one more charming than the last. Before our time in New York, I had the opportunity to serve at Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and at Cabrillo National Monument in my hometown of San Diego, California. Throughout my career with the National Park Service, I’ve found the greatest fulfillment in being part of teams that build strong connections with surrounding communities and create welcoming, engaging experiences for a wide array of audiences.
Looking ahead, I am committed to ensuring that our interpretive programs reflect a level of excellence and innovation that places Roosevelt-Vanderbilt at the forefront of historic house tours across the National Park Service. Central to that vision is a deepened investment in our local communities—strengthening relationships, listening closely, and ensuring that our work remains responsive and relevant to those who live nearest the park. I hope to support a broad spectrum of engagement, from daily dog-walkers to first-time visitors, from international travelers to committed volunteers and interns, so that each person can find a meaningful and lasting connection here.
Even in my short time here, it’s clear that this is a truly special place, made even more so by the people who care for it and support its mission. Thank you for all that you do to help preserve and share these stories. I look forward to working together in the months and years ahead.
