With fresh eyes and an eagerness to promote Selma and Dallas County, Ashley Mason said she’s excited about taking on the role of tourism director for the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce.

Recently graduating from the University of Mobile with a master’s degree in business management, Mason will serve as one of Selma’s biggest cheerleaders as she works to attract visitors to the area.

“Three areas I want to improve on in the tourism department are social media, marketing and networking,” Mason said. “I think we need to improve Selma’s presence on social media because that’s where everybody is and it’s crucial to be there right now.”

For marketing, Mason said she believes Selma is one of Alabama’s best kept secrets — and she’s ready to expose that secret to the rest of the region.

“I’m from Mobile and I knew of Selma because my husband is from here,” Mason said. “There’s such a rich history here with the civil rights movement and the civil war. Selma also has the largest historic district in the state of Alabama, so I want to market it so people are aware of where Selma is and what it has to offer.”

In terms of networking, Mason said she plans to reach out to other tourism departments and collaborate on ways to attract visitors to the area.

Aside from promoting Selma and Dallas County, Mason said she’s excited to become a Selma resident and embrace the community, and all it has to offer.

“I started my own photography business recently, so I wanted to have a job where I would still be able to do something with that,” Mason said, noting that she plans to use her photography skills to market Selma. “I’m excited about the job, and I’m excited to be here. I plan to be in Selma for a very long time.”