Our National Parks: Past, Present, and Future Panel Discussion

Tiernan Sittenfeld

President and CEO

Tiernan Sittenfeld joins the National Parks Conservation Association as President and CEO, bringing nearly

30 years of experience in high-impact advocacy, electoral and issue campaigns, strategic communications,

fundraising, and coalition-building. A widely respected leader within the national conservation community,

she is known for her effectiveness on Capitol Hill, her trusted relationships with elected and appointed

officials, and her deep partnerships with coalition partners across the country.

Sittenfeld’s leadership and strategic advocacy have contributed to significant conservation and climate

victories, including passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Great American Outdoors Act. As Senior

Vice President of Government Affairs for the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), she built and led the

Government Affairs team, growing it from two staff to a highly effective team of 20. A longtime member of

LCV’s Executive Team, she played a central role in the organization’s expansion—from roughly 40 staff to

nearly 200—and has overseen all of the organization’s issue advocacy, spanning climate, clean energy, air

and water protection, conservation and public land defense.

Before joining LCV, Sittenfeld served as the Conservation Advocate for the U.S. Public Interest Research

Group and organized grassroots environmental campaigns in California and Oregon as a campus organizer

and field director after graduating from Dartmouth College.

Born and raised in Ohio, Sittenfeld traces her passion for conservation to life-changing backpacking and

kayaking trips as a teenager to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Denali, and Glacier Bay. She lives in Washington,

DC where she enjoys frequent hikes in Rock Creek Park with her husband and two sons. Her favorite parks

are Glacier Bay, Redwood, Zion and Katahdin Woods and Waters.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is the leading nonprofit advocate for America's national parks. With the support of more than 1.9 million members and supporters, NPCA works to protect and preserve the nation's most iconic natural, cultural, and historic places for present and future generations. The organization champions national parks through advocacy, public education, and conservation efforts, defending these treasured landscapes on the ground, in the courtroom, and on Capitol Hill.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with 27 locations nationwide, NPCA brings together policy experts, volunteers, lobbyists, community organizers, and communications professionals to inform and inspire the public, influence decision-makers, and strengthen protections for national parks. Throughout its history, NPCA has achieved significant conservation victories while continuing to address emerging threats and opportunities facing the National Park System.