Pierno kicks off Moccasin Bend lecture series

Theresa Pierno, president and chief executive officer of the National Parks Conservation Association, will kick off the 14th annual Moccasin Bend Fall Lecture Series presented by National Park Partners.

The series brings in experts to share stories and experiences related to national parks, conservation, history, American Indian culture and more topics. The free series will be held in the Tennessee Aquarium Imax Theater, 201 Chestnut St.,on Monday evenings. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., lectures begin at 7.

Pierno will speak on “Celebrating a Century of Advocacy: The National Parks Conservation Association Turns 100” on Monday, Sept. 16. She will reflect on the last 100 years of partnership with the National Park Service, highlighting achievements of this beneficial relationship and the goals of NPCA for the next 100 years.

Pierno joined NPCA in 2004 after a distinguished career in public service and natural resource protection. As president and CEO, one of her top priorities for the organization is connecting more diverse and younger people to the nation’s national parks.

“For me, it’s about making sure that we have more people, diverse communities, young adults connecting with these places and understanding that national parks play a primary role in the foundation of our democracy and the future of our ecosystems. Protecting parks is protecting both of these things that are so fundamentally important to all of us.”

In an effort to engage and inspire new park stewards and advocates, she formed NPCA’s Next Generation Advisory Council — a group of young rangers, civil servants, public land advocates, educators, students and activists with a strong desire to lead national park advocacy efforts.

Pierno is co-founder and co-chair of America’s Great Waters Coalition, a group of 70 member organizations working together to protect and restore waters in and around national parks.

NATIONAL PARK PARTNERS CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Theresa Pierno