Ali Rhodes is Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Boulder. Her two key responsibilities as Director are to ensure the community is experiencing a high-quality parks and recreation system and that BPR's teammates have the support and skills they need to operate that system. Beginning her professional career in retail banking, Ali soon realized that she had a public service heart and passion for greenspaces, health equity, and people leadership – she joined the city in 2002 and has never looked back. Her path includes roles in recreation programming and facility operations, project management, and senior leadership.

Ali is the President-Elect of the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) and is one of a 7-member faculty for the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Directors School. Ali was the volunteer head coach for Colorado’s first all-girl Little League Team and also volunteers for EXPAND – Boulder's program supporting access to recreation for community members experiencing disability.

What inspired you to pursue a career in public service? 

My first job in local government was working in the city’s sports office, supporting youth and adult athletic programming; I applied for that job because I thought it sounded fun. I’ve stayed for 22 years because I found that public service feeds my soul and I am passionate about making the city a better place to live, work and play.

What has been most meaningful to you about your career?

Our work advancing health equity – making sure all of our community members have access to the incredible programs and spaces that promote health and well-being. And promoting good governance!

What part of your education at the School of Public Affairs has had the greatest impact on your work?  

• Mary Guy’s Foundations class taught me key lessons in balancing the inherent tensions built into our democracy and supported my ability to govern.
• Jamie van Leeuwen’s “Urban Social Problems” class taught me critical lessons about poverty, mental health and substance abuse – a foundation for advancing equity that has proven critical as my organization strives to dismantle structural racism.
• My capstone on volunteerism in local government provided a foundation for amazing improvements to the City of Boulder’s volunteer program.

What is your favorite memory of the School of Public Affairs?  

I loved my commute into Denver from Boulder – often by bus and bike!

Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenges that your field faces?

Funding. Across the country, city infrastructure is aging, and stable housing is out of reach. If we want healthy and socially thriving communities, livable cities, and well-connected neighborhoods, we must find a way to fund our public assets better. If we want everyone to be able to live and play in our cities, we must find a way to address the housing crisis.

What advice would you give to current students and professional development program participants at the School of Public Affairs?

You get what you give! I promise that what you learn while at the School of Public Affairs will far outweigh the value of the degree and letters after your name; do it right and spend time on the research and discussions.