Shayanna Woodward is new senior center director

Custer native Shayanna Woodward is the Custer Senior Center’s new directory. In the spring of last year, her hometown beckoned her back and last Monday, she began her new job as the director of the center.
“I’m really excited for this job, and I’m excited to see where it takes me,” said Woodward.
Woodward graduated from Custer High School in 2019 and then moved to Utah, where she worked toward a degree in nursing until the onset of COVID-19, at which time she switched tracks and worked in mortgage funding and closing, which she also enjoyed.
“I ended up moving back here because I think Custer will always be my home, and I like being grounded and rooted here,” said Woodward.
In high school, Woodward worked in a nursing home, where she quickly realized she had a joy for working with and being around older people.
“The people are so nice, and getting a perspective from people who are older than you is always great,” said Woodward. So when the opportunity came to work with the senior center, she jumped at it.
Woodward is eager to get right to work and would like to see the senior center increase in membership by offering more activities and programs.
One of her goals as the new director is to help bridge the gap between older and younger generations in the community. One way she would like to do this is by bringing young people and children to the center to participate in programs and activities with the members.
“That mentorship would be really cool,” said Woodward.