Fran Ulmer to Chair National Parks Conservation Association Board of Trustees

Washington, D.C. – The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) announces the appointment of Fran Ulmer, former lieutenant governor of Alaska, as chair of its Board of Trustees. NPCA’s Board of Trustees is the governing body for the nonpartisan, nonprofit organization – the nation’s leading voice for America’s national parks.

“Fran has been a member of NPCA’s board for many years and has provided important guidance for the organization,” said NPCA President and CEO Clark Bunting. “Her years of experience in politics, academia, and conservation will help us more effectively advocate on national parks’ behalf. I look forward to working closely with her as we strive to connect new audiences to parks heading into their 2016 centennial.”

Ulmer is currently chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, a position she was appointed to by President Obama in 2011. In June 2010, President Obama appointed her to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. From 2007 to 2011, Ms. Ulmer was chancellor of Alaska’s largest public university, the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). She served as an elected official for 18 years, as the mayor of Juneau, a state representative and lieutenant governor of Alaska.

“I fell in love with the national parks as a child, when my parents, sister and I would embark on long driving trips to places like Yosemite, Mount Rushmore, Great Smoky Mountains and the Everglades,” said Ulmer. “Those adventures planted the seeds of a lifelong commitment to America’s special treasures, and I’m happy to be a part of an organization working to protect our parks for future generations.”

In addition to serving on NPCA’s board, Ms. Ulmer is a member of the Global Board of the Nature Conservancy. She has also served on numerous local, state and federal advisory committees and boards. Ms. Ulmer was previously a distinguished visiting professor and director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research at UAA.

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About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than one million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.