Jen Andrews
Jen Andrews, the first employee of Shelby Farms Park Conservancy back in 2006, has been named executive director of the organization, following the departure of long-time head Laura Morris.
Andrews, 32, was hired in 2006, when the conservancy was called Shelby Farms Park Alliance, and she soon became the director of development and communications. She’ll move into the executive director position on March 21st. Morris, who had served as executive director since 2010, announced her retirement last October.
The conservancy is currently leading a $52 million “Heart of the Park” plan to transform the 4,500-acre park with a larger Patriot Lake (expanding from 52 to 80 acres), a new visitors’ center, an event center with a restaurant, a music pavilion, wetland and forest walks, and more.
“This is my heart’s work. It’s a project I’ve been committed to for a long time and to be selected after an exhaustive national search process is a great honor,” said Andrews. “I’m excited to lead the park’s outstanding team, and my top priority is to make sure we deliver on the promises made in the master plan and on our community’s hopes and dreams for this treasured public asset.”
Tom Grimes, chairman of the conservancy board of directors, said: “Shelby Farms Park is a world-class park and deserves a world-class executive director. We are very pleased that the best candidate turned out to be the park’s own Jen Andrews. Her knowledge of the park is unrivaled, and her thoughtful, inclusive, and transparent leadership style is well-suited to lead Shelby Farms Park as the country’s next great urban park.”
