It’s a dream come true for her!

Eola Dance has just made history—becoming the first Black woman superintendent of Fort Monroe National Monument, according to 10 Wavy News. For the Hampton Roads native, the achievement is not only groundbreaking, it’s deeply personal. Born into a military family—her father retired from the U.S. Army at nearby Fort Eustis—Dance grew up with Fort Monroe woven into the fabric of her childhood.

“I played everywhere you can imagine here at Fort Monroe,” she said. “I learned to swim at the YMCA and at the Officers’ Club. I attended vacation Bible school at the Chapel of the Centurion. I’m so thankful for the community that shaped my thinking. Without question, that military environment… my father wanted to impart in me the freedoms that were fought for.”

After earning her bachelor’s degree in history from Southern University and A&M College, an HBCU, Dance entered the National Park Service through an HBCU recruitment program—an opportunity that set her on a path she has followed for the past 20 years. Now, she steps into her new role after being promoted by NPS Regional Director Gay Vietzke.

For Dance, the moment is humbling.

“It is definitely surreal,” she shared. “It feels like an honor, a privilege certainly… I’ve been with the National Park Service for 20 years. It’s a shock to realize that much time has gone by, but time flies when you’re having fun. There are challenges, but this work is a joy.”

Her new post is especially meaningful given Fort Monroe’s historic significance. The site marks the first African landing in 1619 and later became a landmark of liberation during the Civil War when enslaved people sought refuge from the Confederacy. Designated a national monument in 2011 by President Barack Obama, Fort Monroe stands as a powerful testament to more than 400 years of American history.

“Fort Monroe is so, so special,” Dance said, pausing as emotion filled her voice. Standing by the ancient Algernourne Oak—an over 400-year-old witness to history—she explained her vision for the site. “What I hope to accomplish is to help people tell their own stories. We’ve documented so much of this history already. Now, I hope communities can be present, share, and learn together. I want that to be part of the legacy I leave.”

Dance steps into leadership at a time when the National Park Service continues striving for greater diversity. As of 2020, only 6.7 percent of full-time NPS employees were Black, and fewer than 420 were Black women.

Beyond her work in the park service, Dance is also a doctoral student at Howard University, where she studies the colonial era, women’s history, and the experiences of Black communities. She hopes her journey will open doors for others.

“I take this opportunity—to serve as an African American woman in the National Park Service—to heart. It’s part of my identity. I’m hopeful that through my example, others who might never have seen a place for themselves in the park service will realize there are so many opportunities here.”

Congratulations, Eola! You’re making our ancestors proud.