Sierra McLane - Education Director

Sierra McLane is the Education Director for the Murie Science and Learning Center based at Denali National Park and Preserve.

Sierra McLane, Ph.D.

Education Director
Murie Science and Learning Center
Denali National Park and Preserve
National Park Service
907-683-6436 (w)
[e-mail]

Strategic Leader

More than 15 years of experience developing and managing successful programs that increase scientific and cultural literacy. Skilled at directing and supervising teams using best-in-class education standards, partnerships, and emotional intelligence. Adept at facilitating complex programs and projects in virtual and in-person settings. Highly knowledgeable of land management agency systems and biological, physical, and cultural resources. Thrive in managing team development and implementation of strategic, visionary ideas.

Professional Experience

Education Director, Murie Science and Learning Center
Denali National Park and Preserve (2011 – present)
Oversee high-quality education programs, products, and partnerships serving 500,000+ visitors per year

Branch Manager, Education and Outreach
Yosemite National Park (interim 2022 – 2023)
Oversaw the revitalization of Yosemite National Park’s Education and Outreach branch after multi-year lull

Co-Founder and Science Teacher, Woolman Semester
Sierra Friends Center (2003 – 2005)
Co-founded and taught environmental science at high-school residential semester program in the Sierra foothills

Environmental Policy Fellow
New Hampshire Public Interest Research Group (2002 – 2003)
Researched and lobbied on energy conservation bills in the New Hampshire state house

Naturalist and Hut Crew Member
Appalachian Mountain Club (summers 2000, 2002)
Provided naturalist presentations, food, and hospitality for 50+ guests per night in a remote backcountry lodge

Select Education Programs

Founder/Developer and Manager of In-person Programs

• Denali Field Camp: 5-day programs serving ~50 students per year with emphasis on local and underserved populations including Alaska Native, first-in-family to university, foster care, low income, military, Title 1, and first-generation Americans
• Denali Discovery Camp: 5-day programs serving ~80 students per year
• Denali Backcountry Adventures: 5-day programs serving ~18 students per year
• Denali Distance Learning: 1-hour programs serving ~6,000 students per year
• Denali Science School: 3-day programs serving ~300 students per year
• Denali Science and Stewardship Symposium: 16-hour programs serving 250 Denali-area employees per year
• Denali Field Trips for qualifying youth groups: ~500 students served per year
• Teacher Workshops: 3-day workshop serving ~10 teachers per year

Producer and Manager of Self-serve Products and Services

• Denali Tour Booklets: ~200,000 booklets distributed to park visitors per year
• Denali Science and Research and Denali – A Wild Classroom: ~75 webpages produced and/or updated
• Denali Junior Ranger Program: ~13,000 books distributed per year
• Denali Online Junior Ranger Program: new, usership TBD
• Denali Discovery Pack Program ~750 free loans per year
• Academic Park Entrance Fee Waiver program: ~12 waivers issued per year

Publications and Outreach

Select Popular Publications and Engagements

• How to Develop Effective Education Program Goals. Invited speaker, NPS Alaska Region Education Workshop, 2022 and 2023.
• Denali for Families: A Visitor’s Guide, Denali National Park and Preserve, producer, 2021.
• Denali National Park and Preserve: Preservation in Times of Change (Tour Booklet), coauthor, 2020.
• Increasing Inclusivity on Public Lands: A Partner’s Role. Presenter, Public Lands Alliance Convention and Trade Show and videoconference, 2020.
• Denali National Park and Preserve Geology Road Guide. Co-author, 2020.

Academic Publications

• COVID-19 pandemic impacts on conservation research, management, and public engagement in US national parks. Biological Conservation, Volume 257, 2021 (co-author).
• Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) assisted migration potential: Testing establishment north of the species range. Ecological Applications 22(1): 142-153, 2012 (primary author).
• Modeling lodgepole pine radial growth relative to climate and genetics using universal growth-trend response functions. Ecological Applications 21(3): 776-788, 2011 (primary author).
• Climate impacts on lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) radial growth in a provenance experiment. Forest Ecology and Management 262: 115-123, 2011 (primary author).
• Conservation genetics of high-elevation five-needle pines. In: The future of high-elevation, five-needle white pines in Western North America: Proceedings of the High Five Symposium, 28-30 June 2010; Missoula, MT (co-author).
• Adaptation, migration or extirpation: climate change outcomes for tree populations. Evolutionary Applications (1): 95–111, 2008 (co-author).

Education

PhD, Forest Conservation Genetics
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia

Bachelor of Arts, Biological Anthropology, Environmental Studies focus
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore PA
Additional Studies: Tropical biology; Costa Rica | Organization for Tropical Studies

Additional Education, Research, and Volunteer Experience

President, Board of Directors
McKinley Village Community Club, Denali Park AK (2015 – 2018)

Graduate Research Assistant, Centre for Forest Conservation Genetics
University of British Columbia (2005 – 2011)

Alpine Ecology and Forest Biology Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of British Columbia (2006 – 2010)

President, Environmental Club
Swarthmore College (1999 – 2002)

Outdoor Educator (rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, caving, trekking)
Adventure Quest (summers 1995 – 1998)

Additional Skills

• Expert in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, PowerPoint)
• Proficient in Adobe, CMS
• Bilingual in Spanish (intermediate) and English; French (basic)
• Able to work in remote, high-risk, challenging environments such as backcountry wilderness
• Skilled at leading groups off trail while navigating brush, river bars, scree, uneven ground and carrying a ~40-pound pack
• Highly experienced in locomoting via skis, bikes, paddled boats
• Expert in human-wildlife conflict scenarios
• Aspirational at kayaking with 8-year-olds while eating smores and dodging icebergs