An Ethnohistorian with more than 20 years of experience in history, art, culture and preservation. Eola is currently Sr. Advisor to the VA 250 and holds the distinction of having served as the first descendant of enslaved people to hold the position of President and CEO of a presidential site and the first African American woman to serve as the Superintendent at Point Comfort, the location of African Landing in 1619. Founder of VISION, a global community committed to purpose driven living, Eola is excited to bring together her personal, academic and professional passions. Awarded the 2021 Trailblazer Award by the Greening Youth Foundation, Eola is committed to preparing the next generation for careers in environmental stewardship, archeology and museums. A recognized leader in descendant community engagement, Eola has worked at the intersection of race, gender, and class in research, preservation and storytelling since 2001. Eola uses arts based approaches in discussing difficult topics in social history significant to underrepresented communities with specialized focus on Indigenous and African American experiences. She received a BA in History from Southern University A & M College, an MA in Historic Preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design and a graduate certificate in Environmental Policy from The George Washington University. A 2014 attendee to Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition at Yale University’s Public History Summer Session, Eola has developed programs and worked with communities in researching the people and history of the Underground Railroad. A PhD candidate at Howard University, Eola’s area of concentration is US History with a minor in African Diaspora and Public History. Her research focuses on race in 17th Century America, the evolution of racialized slavery, the legacy of 1619 and opportunities for healing and reconciliation within and across communities. Eola is a member of the William & Mary EMBA 2026 cohort. Additionally, Eola is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. initiated in the Beta Psi chapter in the fall of 2000 and is a current member of the Xi Omega chapter. In her free time Eola can be found exploring nature trails with her three sons, jogging, doing yoga or painting.