Great Basin National Park Speaker Series
Great Basin National Park Celebrates 40 Years!
In 2026, Great Basin National Park celebrates its 40th anniversary - a milestone shaped by decades of scientific research, stewardship, and community passion. To honor this legacy and expand access to the stories that make the Park extraordinary, Great Basin National Park Foundation is launching a monthly Virtual Speaker Series.
Whether you’re a longtime Great Basin National Park enthusiast, or someone discovering Nevada's National Park for the first time, the series will offer a unique opportunity to see the Park through new perspectives.
Learn more here: greatbasinfoundation.org/news/40anniversary. The first program kicks-off next week on January 27, featuring three former Great Basin National Park Superintendents. You can Register here.
We are excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Great Basin National Park in 2026!
To connect audiences more deeply to the Park - from wherever they live - we are launching a monthly virtual speaker series. The series will explore the wonders of the Park and the people, stories, and milestones of the past four decades.
Please join us on January 27 at 6 pm for our kick-off event “Superintendent Stories” - featuring former Great Basin National Park Superintendents whose leadership and passion helped define Great Basin’s identity, protect its resources, and expand its impact, sustainability, accessibility, and significance.
Hear reflections on the early milestones, major initiatives, community partnerships, and Park Superintendents own personal journeys. And gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of how Park leadership helped navigate the challenges and opportunities at Great Basin National Park throughout the years.
Register to Join Us!
Our Panelists
Rebecca Mills, Superintendent at Great Basin National Park from 1995-2002.
Rebecca’s dream came true when she became Superintendent of Great Basin National Park. During her time at the Park, Rebecca helped Bonnie Bryan launch the Great Basin National Park Foundation and after her retirement from the NPS, she joined the Foundation Board of Directors. Earlier in Becky’s career she oversaw youth employment and equal opportunity programs for the National Park Service Western Region. Becky grew up hiking and camping with family and Girl Scouts then worked as a community organizer, social worker, and non-profit director before joining the National Park Service.
Steve Mietz, Superintendent at Great Basin National Park from 2013-2017.
Steve served more than two decades of leadership and natural and cultural resources management in the National Park Service - at Point Reyes National Seashore, Grand Canyon National Park, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Great Basin National Park, and multiple regional directorships around the American West. Throughout his public service career, Steve forged innovative, sustainable programs and partnerships, especially in connection with tribal groups. Mietz was named Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship by the National Park Service in 2022. Steve currently serves as the President and CEO of Save the Redwoods League.
James Woolsey, Superintendent at Great Basin National Park from 2018-2023.
James’s leadership at Great Basin was shaped by a long career in national parks and public lands, where he specialized in interpretation, visitor experience, and resource stewardship. Before joining Great Basin, James held key positions at Springfield Armory, Coltsville National Historical Park, Death Valley, and Acadia. His work also extended internationally, where he directed visitor services at the Normandy American Cemetery and later supported operations at U.S. military cemeteries overseas. Since retiring in 2023, James and his wife, Elizabeth, have remained deeply connected to the Great Basin community. They continue to call Baker, Nevada home, where they operate the Bristlecone General Store and the Stargazer Inn - continuing their commitment to welcoming visitors to the region.
Moderator
Brandi Roberts, Executive Director of the Great Basin Heritage Area Partnership (GBHAP).
Brandi leads regional efforts to preserve and share the rich natural, cultural, and historical heritage of the Great Basin. Her work supports communities across the Heritage Area through grantmaking, educational programs, and collaborative projects that highlight the region’s unique landscape and traditions. Brandi worked at Great Basin National Park as a lead interpreter from 2001 to 2013. She had the privilege of working closely with each of the past Superintendents on our panel.
