Lara de Souza-Hamwey

Lara de Souza-Hamwey currently serves as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Tucson since January 2021. Prior experience includes a notable tenure as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Miami from February 2004 to December 2020, where responsibilities included setting department-wide goals, approving budgets, and managing various administrative functions. Lara also held the position of Deputy Director, overseeing procurement, human resources, and policy development. Additional roles within the City of Miami included Public Relations Specialist and Public Relations Agent, focusing on accreditation and master planning. Prior to government service, Lara worked as a freelance Communications Specialist and as an Account Executive/Event Coordinator for Stuart Newman Associates. Lara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey, earned in 1999.