Rebecca Stanfield McCown is the acting director of the US National Park Service Stewardship Institute. She has helped develop and lead the National Park Service's Urban Agenda, setting the foundation for the role the Service will play in urban areas in its second century.Ms Stanfield McCown has also done extensive research on engaging diverse youth in public lands, leadership development of conservation practitioners, and place-based educational program evaluation. Ms Stanfield McCown holds a B.S. in recreation and tourism from Colorado State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in natural resources from the University of Vermont.