Speaker

Atuya O. Cornwell

He/Him/His
Director
Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department
Chapel Hill, NC
United States

Atuya O. Cornwell is a certified park and recreation executive with nearly 20 years of
experience. Atuya is an active member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
and is passionate about connecting professionals with development tools and growth
opportunities. He is the 2015 recipient of NRPA’s Robert W. Crawford Young Professional
Award. Atuya has served on NRPA’s Program Committee, Young Professional Network
Leadership Team, and the Public Policy Committee.

Atuya currently serves as the Director of Parks and Recreation in the Town of Chapel
Hill, NC. His park and recreation career path started in Mecklenburg County, NC and has
included several years in Montgomery County, MD and Prince George’s County, MD through
his service with The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Atuya has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sports Science from The University of North
Carolina at Greensboro and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer
University. As a facilitator of numerous educational sessions at local, state, and national
conferences, Atuya champions the benefits of being empowered through exposure and
experiences.

Atuya is the proud son of a former Paralympic athlete and credits his father as the reason for his
passion for sports and recreation. Since returning to North Carolina in 2022, Atuya cherishes
time spent with his niece and nephew along with his service as a Blue-Ribbon Mentor with the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools System.

Contact:
acornwell@townofchapelhill.org
+1 919-968-2849


Social Media:
www.chapelhillparks.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/atuya-c-a4b8108/