Skip to content

Leadership Training

Ron Walker Leadership Program

Meeting strategic needs and developing leaders.

The Ron Walker Leadership Program engages participants in various formats to discuss, study, and examine leadership in the everchanging world of park management. The program combines online preparatory study and experiential learning, concluding with a field-based seminar at Clemson University during the George B. Hartzog Awards and Lecture series each Fall. This program consists of approximately 45 contact hours of study that can be taken for continuing education.

The program provides a mix of field experiences at signature state parks and the resources of the Clemson University campus. Participants will also engage with park leaders and subject experts from across the nation.

Topics include:

  • financial sustainability. 
  • visitor use management.
  • increasing capacity and effectiveness.
  • disruptive innovations.
  • employee retention.
  • the role of science and research.
  • leadership and effective decision making.

Apply Now

walker.jpg

Ronald H. Walker Park Leadership Development Program

Help provide specialized training to current and aspiring local, state, and national leaders that are interested in innovative solutions and approaches to persistent and emerging management issues. Current park leaders train new leaders in a program that allows participants to discuss, study and examine the role of a park or public lands leader in the ever-changing world of park management.

Give Now

 

About the Ron Walker

Eighth director of the National Park Service (NPS), Ron Walker:

  • At age 36, the youngest to ever hold the position.
  • As NPS Director, Walker prepared the Service for a high influx of new parks and program responsibilities, realigned regional boundaries and added North Atlantic and Rocky Mountain offices.
  • Initiated planning for the American Revolution Bicentennial activities.
  • Prior to his NPS service, Walker was Director of the White House Office of Presidential Advance.
walker-2.png

walker-2021.jpg

Walker Second Cohort

 

Walker First Cohort

The Walker Way

We ground our actions in our national, collective parks mission and our personal missions:

 to protect, preserve and enhance the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our care.

We use the best available sound science to ensure that our decisions protect our nation’s resources and heritage, and connect all people to them through meaningful visitor experiences.

We serve the long-term public interest, mindful of the responsibility that we have to promote the shared stewardship of our natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.

We make decisions with accurate fidelity to the law to ensure that the laws of our nation are faithfully executed and are well understood by our staff, agencies, stakeholders and the public.

We have the courage and the commitment to anticipate and address the challenges and opportunities of our time and involve diverse perspectives to proactively make informed, balanced decisions.

We share our ideas, expertise and commitment to advance our profession and the significance of our parks and our natural and cultural resources: our network can count on each other for advice, support and encouragement.

We lead with integrity, vision, passion and humility, crediting those who are the doers of deeds and supporting them in daring to take risks and stay the course through the vagaries of political tides.

We are proud to be Walkers and will lead as Ron Walker led, understanding that all real leadership happens within Roosevelt’s Arena.

Clemson University Institute for Parks
Copyright © Clemson University
Clemson University Institute for Parks | 281 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson, SC, 29635
864-656-0787 | |