Board of Directors

Maureen Finnerty: Chair

Ms. Finnerty had a 30 year career with the National Park Service, which included assignments as superintendent of the Everglades and Olympic National Parks and a senior leadership position in the Washington, D.C. Office. She also served as past chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, an organization of nearly 2000 retired, former, and current National Park Service employees, and has served on several other park boards since her retirement.

Ben Kieffner: Vice Chair

As the Co-Founder of Wild Tribute, Mr. Kieffner helped turned a passion project into a dynamic brand that operates under a mandate to support America's most and wild and historic places. 4% of Wild Tribute's proceeds are donated to our parks and public lands. Prior to Wild Tribute, Mr. Kieffner worked in healthcare in the mergers and acquisitions space.

Dominic Dottavio, Ph.D.: Secretary, Treasurer

Dr. Dottavio served as the President of Tarleton State University in Texas from 2008 until 2019. Prior to that, he was President of Heidelberg University and Dean of Ohio State University in Marion. Before returning to academia, Dr. Dottavio served as the Regional Chief Scientist for the National Park Service in Atlanta, Georgia.

Frank Dean

Mr. Dean is the President & CEO of Yosemite Conservancy, a position he has held since 2015. He previously served nearly four decades with the National Park Service as a park ranger and in several management positions across the nation, most recently as the superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Mr. Dean serves on several university and non-profit boards that support national parks.

Joel Dunn

Mr. Dunn is president and CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy, which is a principal partner to the National Park Service. The organization is currently supporting an effort to create a national recreation area for the Chesapeake Bay. Under his leadership, the Conservancy has focused on using technology to practice precision conservation and building successful partnerships with federal, state and local agencies, private foundations, and corporations to advance conservation and restoration. Mr. Dunn received his joint MEM/MPP from Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Sanford School, respectively, and his BS from The Evergreen State College.

Karen Kasmauski

Ms. Kasmauski is a professional photographer whose work explores scientific, environmental, public health, and global change issues. She conducts story telling workshops for universities and non-profits and leads photography trips for National Geographic Expeditions. Ms. Kasmauski is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Ryan Valdez, Ph.D.

Dr. Valdez serves as Director of Conservation Science for National Parks Conservation Association where he integrates multidisciplinary science to help protect US national parks. Ryan works primarily in wildlife and landscape conservation with a strong interest in GIS and conservation mapping. He has managed long-term projects throughout the Americas and East Africa during his tenure with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. At George Mason University he teaches Conservation Biology and founded and continues to direct GMU’s Kenya Wildlife & Landscapes study abroad program each winter. As an active STEAM career and academic mentor, Ryan has helped many students develop strategies toward employment and to further their college and university level education. Ryan holds degrees in wildlife and conservation science from: Texas A&M University (B.S.), Yale University (MFS) and George Mason University (Ph.D.).

Rob Wallace

Mr. Wallace has spent his career working in the energy, natural resources and public land disciplines. He began his career as a seasonal park ranger in Grand Teton National Park, and since then has held numerous positions in the public and private sector. Those included key positions with the National Park Service, US Senate, Governor of Wyoming, and GE’s energy division. His most recent position was as Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the Department of Interior. Rob has also held key positions in several environmental organizations.

Scott Hall

Mr. Hall retired after 30 years of federal service, 23 of which were dedicated to international program coordination with the National Park Service, US Geological Survey, and Department of Interior. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, he developed the original environmental education plan for Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador. Mr. Hall is an alumnus of Duke University’s Trinity College and the former School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (now Nicholas School of the Environment).

Advisors

Theresa Pierno

Ms. Pierno is the President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a position she assumed in 2016. She has worked at NPCA since 2004. She is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of America’s Great Waters Coalition and served as a Vice President for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Maryland Executive Director since 1999.

Robert Stanton

Mr. Stanton had a distinguished 30-year career working for the National Park Service at the park, regional, and Washington, D.C. levels. He retired in 1995, but was brought back in 1997 to serve as the 15th Director of the National Park Service. He was the first African American to hold that position. Mr. Stanton has served as Executive Professor at Texas A&M and as a visiting professor at several universities.

Milton Chen, Ph.D.

Dr. Milton Chen is senior fellow and executive director, emeritus at The George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), a non-profit operating foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Chen has held many esteemed positions in the educational media field and has received numerous awards for his work, including being named an Honorary Ranger by the National Park Service (the highest civilian honor awarded by the agency) for his work as the chair of the education committee for the National Park System Advisory Board.

Douglas Wheeler

Mr. Wheeler is a senior counsel at Hogan Lovells US LLP and former Assistant Legislative Counsel and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks at Department of Interior. He has served as a senior executive of nonprofit conservation organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Sierra Club, and the World Wildlife Fund. Mr. Wheeler currently serves on the boards of the Conservation Lands Foundation and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. He is also a graduate and emeritus member of the Board of Advisors of the Duke University School of Law.

Denis Galvin

Mr. Galvin had a 38 year career with the National Park Service working in parks, regional offices, and training and service centers. For nine of those years, he was the Deputy Director. Since retiring from the National Park Service, Mr. Galvin has continued his work in the conversation field and has served on many committees. He currently serves on the board of the National Parks Conservation Association. Mr. Galvin continues to receive numerous awards for his contributions to conservation.

Stuart Pimm, Ph.D.

Dr. Pimm is the Doris Duke Chair of Conservation Ecology at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. He is a world leader in the study of present day extinctions and what we can do to prevent them. Dr. Pimm received his BSc degree from Oxford University in 1971 and his Ph.D. from New Mexico State University in 1974. He is the author of over 300 scientific papers and four books. Dr. Pimm is one of the most highly cited environmental scientists.

Staff

Tyler Sammis: Executive Director

Tyler is an experienced strategist with a passion for environmental education and outdoor recreation. Before joining the Institute, Tyler worked in the private sector for almost a decade equipping and training explosive hazard remediation teams. He holds several graduate degrees, including an Master of Environmental Management from Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment where his research focused on equitable approaches to park renovation in gentrifying communities.

Will Baughman: Conservation Research Associate

As a second-year master’s student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, Will is deeply interested in analyzing and helping to refine conservation policy, especially regarding land use and workforce recruitment. Will holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Centre College, where he conducted research on ant colony foraging pathways and assisted with an assessment of coral reef health in Belize.