Diana Dupuis has been appointed as the new director of Washington State Parks and will serve as the first female director since the agency was established more than 100 years ago.
Her hiring …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you had an active account on our previous website, then you have an account here. Simply reset your password to regain access to your account.
If you did not have an account on our previous website, but are a current print subscriber, click here to set up your website account.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
* Having trouble? Call our circulation department at 360-385-2900, or email our support.
Please log in to continue |
|
Diana Dupuis has been appointed as the new director of Washington State Parks and will serve as the first female director since the agency was established more than 100 years ago.
Her hiring came at the close of a nationwide search that started late last year and concluded with an internal promotion. Dupuis is currently the region manager in Spokane for Washington State Parks.
Dupuis will fill the position left vacant by the resignation of former director Pete Mayer in October. Mayer was initially appointed as director in March 2021.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission interviewed candidates for the post in early March.
Commissioners announced Dupuis’ appointment Thursday.
Her first day as director will be April 1.
“Diana is a strategic leader with extensive experience in parks. She has dedicated more than 14 years to our agency,” said Parks Commission Chairman Mark O. Brown.
“I am pleased to welcome Diana as the new director. She has a deep understanding of our agency, and I am confident that her expertise will help us achieve our goals,” Brown added.
As director, Dupuis will serve as the leader of a park system that includes more than 120,000 acres, 124 developed parks, numerous properties and heritage sites, and a team of nearly 1,000 staff.
“I am honored to serve as the next director for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and am grateful for the confidence the commission has placed in me,” Dupuis said.
“I’m excited to work with the commission, staff, partners, elected officials, and members of the public to continue growing our agency and creating welcoming recreational opportunities for all visitors,” she added.
Dupuis has served as a park ranger, area manager, and operations manager.
Prior to joining Washington State Parks, Dupuis worked as an adjunct faculty member at Green River Community College in the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Criminal Justice. She also served on the special operations response team with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner office.
Dupuis earned a master’s degree in anthropology from California State University, Los Angeles and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. She grew up in Indiana and Michigan and spent her childhood immersed in the outdoors year-round. Dupuis enjoys snowshoeing, hiking, running, bird watching, and camping with her wife, daughter, and stepson.
