Jasper grad working with Hoosier National Forest

Jasper graduate Andrea Crain is the new public affairs officer for the Hoosier National Forest.

Crain returns to the state after working in California for several years.

“It’s good to be home and close to my family again,” Crain said. “Even though I’m new to the Hoosier, it feels familiar because I grew up here and I expect to get acclimated quickly. I’m excited to help showcase the amazing resources and employees on the forest, and help people connect with their public lands.”

As the public affairs officer Crain is responsible for outreach and information services, media contacts, legislative issues, and conservation education. She supervises several employees at both the Bedford and Tell City offices.

Crain attributes much of her interest in natural resources to growing up the daughter of a National Park Service interpreter.  Her father, Mike Capps, is Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.

She graduated from high school in Jasper in 2004 and attended the University of Southern Indiana. Crain worked seasonally during her college years at George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. After graduation, she became a park ranger and later transferred to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Omaha, NE.

Andrea then joined the US Forest Service with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in northern California. She worked first as the interpretive specialist on the National Recreation Area and then became the forest public affairs officer in 2014.

Crain has extensive qualifications and experience as a public information officer on all-risk incidents, including the historic Rim Fire in Yosemite NP. She worked in the interagency joint information center in Alaska last summer, and many other on-forest and off-forest assignments.

Crain and her husband are living in Bloomington.

Crain can be reached at the Bedford office of the Hoosier National Forest at 812-275-5987.