In her role as Director of Education and Programming, Hughes is responsible for a staff of 50 and interpretive programming for over 100,000 annual visitors to the Metroparks. In her first year as Director, Hughes took the department from “needs improvement” to one of the highest performing programming departments in the country. She has managed or implemented 13 award winning programs. Personally, she has received the Metropark’s Heart of the Park, Above and Beyond and Director’s Awards. Hughes developed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Specialist position to prioritize outreach to underserved populations.

The consummate volunteer, Hughes provides leadership talent in grant writing, strategic planning, and organizational development for Graham’s Foundation and Heart Beat of Toledo.

Through Varsity Tutors, she tutors children in history and language arts. She is a theater and coaching volunteer at Cardinal Stritch Catholic Academy and coaches softball for the Oregon Recreation Department.

Hughes earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hiram College and a Master’s in Public Administration and a Doctorate in Leadership and Policy Studies in Human Development from Bowling Green.