CMU alumna earns National Park Service’s top safety and health honor

A Central Michigan University alumna is being recognized nationally for her commitment to protecting the people who visit and work in the nation’s parks.

Amber Simms, a 2020 graduate of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration in the College of Education and Human Services, received the National Park Service Director’s Award for Safety and Health Achievement for her leadership in strengthening workplace safety at the George Washington Memorial Parkway and throughout the National Capital Region.

“This is one of the highest honors the National Park Service bestows for excellence in employee safety and health achievement,” Simms said. “Earning this award underscores not just the impact of the work itself, but the importance of the mission behind it.”

As the parkway’s Safety and Occupational Health Manager, Simms developed and implemented a regional strategy to improve occupational safety and health practices during a period of limited staffing. She collaborated with park and regional leaders on fire and life safety inspections, special event safety planning and other critical safety initiatives. She also mentored and trained newly hired safety managers and helped test updated national safety, health and wellness resources before their broader implementation.

For Simms, the recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the purpose behind her work.

“Every day I come to work with one goal in mind, ensuring that the people around me go home the same way they arrived, or even better,” Simms said. “To have that commitment recognized at this level is incredibly meaningful.”

Simms’ path to a career with the National Park Service began during her senior year of high school. She initially considered going into engineering, but her great-grandfather saw how unhappy she was during her engineering internship and encouraged her to explore a career doing something she enjoyed. That conversation led her to CMU’s nationally recognized Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration and a career in recreation and park management.

Her time at CMU helped prepare Simms for her career through hands-on learning and professional connections. A 52-week internship with the National Park Service proved especially influential, providing experiences that opened the door to future opportunities.

Through AmeriCorps, Simms later worked as a volunteer coordinator with the George Washington Memorial Parkway, building relationships across park divisions and throughout the region. She went on to serve in maintenance and supervisory positions before being selected for her current safety leadership role in late 2022.

Simms credits CMU faculty members Lynn Dominguez and Bob Dvorak with helping shape her career path. Dominguez shared firsthand insights into working for the National Park Service, while Dvorak connected students with CMU alumni already working in the field.

Those experiences, Simms said, helped her develop the knowledge, professional network and confidence to pursue her goals.

“In the RPL Department, we emphasize experiential learning through scholastic achievement, application, diverse experiences, and community involvement,” Dvorak said. “Amber was a student that lived these values and took every opportunity in the classroom, on her internship, and through professional development to be "Fired Up" in her profession. It is great to see all of the efforts and hard work being recognized as they so truly deserve.”

Today, Simms’ work continues to strengthen safety practices across the National Park Service’s National Capital Region, helping ensure employees and visitors can enjoy the parks with greater confidence.

“Safety and health aren’t just parts of my job, they’re the reason I do what I do,” Simms said.