Staff Saturday Profiles – National Park Service Week

August 29 is Staff Saturday, a part of the NPS Week series of themed days. Learn more about the people who help run the NHA.

It’s National Parks Week, a week-long celebratory series of themed days celebrating our National Parks, other natural and historic sites affiliated with them, and this year’s USA’s 250th and the National Park Service’s 110th! Today, August 29, is Staff Saturday, a day to commemorate our Park Staff, Rangers and all other stewards of our nature, culture and history. To celebrate this day, and since we haven’t actually really done this before, we put together these profiles of our small but mighty team of six. Enjoy!

 

Revonda Cosby

Executive Director

How long have you worked here and what brought you to working at Arabia?

“I joined the Alliance in December 2019, Alliance Founder Kelly Jordan shared the opportunity and after a conversation and tour of key places in the NHA I was sold. I love nature (outdoors), working with local communities and conservation. The Heritage Area offered me all of that and more!”

What are the most prominent experiences you’ve had since you started here?

“I have most enjoyed building this amazing team, small but mighty, that loves and truly stewards this Heritage Area. Standout moments include the hiring of the first Roving Ranger in an NHA, the first book about an NHA, the smallest parade in a historically Black city with an opossum, galvanizing the communities and commitment to preserve the Bruce Street School.”

What site in the NHA (park, historic area, trail, etc) is the most personal to you?

“The Bruce Street School Ruins site, especially working alongside Bruce Street School Alum Allene Harper, and watching engagement grow through social media.

 

Jennifer Dickie

Program Manager

How long have you worked here and what brought you to working at Arabia?

“4 years, The Alliance is the only job I found that connected all of my skills as carpenter, teacher, & geologist in one position!”

What are the most prominent experiences you’ve had since you started here?

“Discovering how much volunteer work goes into maintaining our 5 NHA geocache series that contain over 100 geocaches – it is truly a labor of love!”

What site in the NHA (park, historic area, trail, etc) is the most personal to you?

“The Honey Creek Woodlands natural conservation burial grounds at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit holds a lot of significance for me. One of our Arabia Rangers was buried there a couple of years ago, and I also have friends who have buried loved ones there and also who have been buried there. It is a very peaceful place to visit.”

 

Jeff Dingler

Communications Manager

How long have you worked here and what brought you to working at Arabia?

“Four years in November! I love writing, love nature and history, and this job seemed like a great mix of all three. After I finished my MFA in creative writing, I cast a wide net applying. I’d been to Arabia Mountain before and applied and here I am!”

What are the most prominent experiences you’ve had since you started here?

“So many prominent experiences! Definitely traveling to see the other NHAs across this country during our fall and spring work conferences, seeing how diverse and resilient they are. But also starting the Arabia Reads series for local authors and, of course, co-authoring a book about Arabia with the awesome Brigette Jones! I’ll never forget that!”

What site in the NHA (park, historic area, trail, etc) is the most personal to you?

“My favorite spots seem like low-hanging fruit, but I love a good walk on Vaughers’ Meadow Loop Trail or to the top of Arabia. There’s something special about Arabia. Many times when I’ve had a bad day or been feeling blue, a walk on the outcrop will cure that.”

 

Aleksandr (Sasha) Johnson

Project Coordinator

How long have you worked here and what brought you to working at Arabia?

“I’ve been working for the Alliance for almost 4 years. I had just completed an internship at the NPS Southeast Regional Office and was looking for a way to connect my Communications background with a nature or recreation-based organization and Arabia was just down the interstate.”

What are the most prominent experiences you’ve had since you started here?

“I especially value the connection we have to the community and all of the instances of these connections, from hosting a Bruce Street storytelling celebration to leading walks for adults and students. I think that these connections have helped me understand the relationship between stewards and visitors, especially when many of the visitors live within the NHA. It is almost like you’re helping them understand their own home a little better.”

What site in the NHA (park, historic area, trail, etc) is the most personal to you?

“I feel most personally connected to any of the rock outcrop environments in the NHA, especially Arabia Mountain itself and some of the flatter outcrops surrounding the Nature Center. I am interested in rare species of life, and the outcrops host many rare endemics or near-endemics like diamorpha and the Porter’s sunflowers, or Yellow Daisies. I just enjoy wandering and taking in these rare slices of habitat.”

 

Brigette Jones

Assistant Executive Director

How long have you worked here and what brought you to working at Arabia?

“I’ve been with Arabia a little over three years, and the opportunity to grow as a cultural institution leader and build with a new team brought me to Arabia.“

What are the most prominent experiences you’ve had since you started here?

“The most prominent experiences I’ve had since starting with Arabia is giving a tour of Lyon Farm to rapper, Rick Ross and hosting authors Brian Goldstone and Nick Stone for our Arabia Reads series“

What site in the NHA (park, historic area, trail, etc) is the most personal to you?

“For me, there is a tie between the Bruce Street School and Lyon Farm because the histories are so intertwined.”

 

Joel Slaton

Roving Ranger (and creator of the popular Doll’s Head Trail at Constitution Lakes)

How long have you worked here and what brought you to working at Arabia?

“Almost 4 years on the job.”

What are the most prominent experiences you’ve had since you started here?

“I have really enjoyed the many, various events we have hosted or taken part in.”

What site in the NHA (park, historic area, trail, etc) is the most personal to you?

“My favorite spot in the NHA is Albert Shoals, which is accessed at Everett Park or the de Castro Trailhead.”

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Sasha Johnson

Sasha Johnson

Published : August 28, 2026
Category : Featured, Field Notes