Celinda Pena

Celinda Peña is a communications and public engagement professional, as well as an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years covering local and network television news in Washington D.C., Florida and Texas.

From September of 2009 to May of 2014, she worked as Assistant Director of Communications and Advisor to the Director for the National Park Service. There, she was responsible for creating and fostering new strategic partnerships for outreach to diverse audiences and increasing overall awareness of national parks. Celinda developed new models for outreach with national Latino organizations such as LULAC, NCLR, CHCI and national park partners and created education-based programs in national parks, which are now serving more than 1,000 minority youth leaders annually.

Celinda oversaw the National Park Service’s American Latino Heritage Initiative and coordinated the agency outreach efforts to Members of Congress, stakeholders and local communities. As part of the community outreach, she developed and coordinated local summits highlighting Latino heritage and historic preservation in Los Angeles and San Antonio. Celinda also organized the 2011 White House Summit on American Latino Heritage at the Department of the Interior and served as mistress of ceremonies.

Additionally, Celinda worked with corporations serving national parks, such as Forever Resorts, Eastern National and Guest Services, to negotiate sponsorships of minority engagement and outreach activities. She also led the partnership with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and coordinated high profile naturalization ceremonies with Cabinet Secretaries and media coverage in national parks.

Previously, she was Director of Public Relations for Maya Advertising in Washington, D.C. She is currently Principal of Mira Mediaworks, a minority, women-owned video production and strategic communications company.

During her career as a broadcast journalist, Celinda covered events ranging from the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon, the 2002 Beltway Sniper Attacks, and focused on areas of education and immigration.

Celinda enjoys hiking and camping with her family, especially in national and state parks. She is a proficient writer, producer and reporter and is often asked to speak on panels, and act as host or emcee for events.