National Park Service Liaison

The Appalachian State University Liaison to the National Park Service (NPS) is the central contact for initiatives that partner Appalachian with NPS units across the United States. The Liaison Office promotes opportunities (e.g., service projects and task agreements) that will mutually benefit University students, faculty/staff, and alumni, as well as NPS units. Past projects have partnered members of the Appalachian community with NPS natural/cultural resource personnel, NPS interpreters, and NPS educational initiatives.

This partnership has provided more than $300,000 for paid internship experiences at National Parks since 2013, benefitting >30 Appalachian State students and graduates.

To learn more about our partnership with the National Park Service, please contact Dr. Mark Spond, Appalachian State University's Liaison to the National Park Service:

Email: spondmd@appstate.edu
Office Phone: 828.262.7050

The National Park Service is currently hiring for summer 2025, you can find and apply for open positions at www.usajobs.gov

Take a listent to "The Appalachian Outdoorsity Podcast" hosted by Dr. Joy James and Dr. Becki Battista as they interview AppState students and NPS Trust Ambassadors Madi Heater and Nick Perkins: https://outdoorosity.podcasts.appstate.edu/e/ep-14-connecting-campus-to-nature-the-journey-of-national-park-ambassadors/

BIG NEWS!  AppState has just entered a 5-year agreement with NPS Youth and Young Adult Programs Division. The program will allow for NPS units to partner with AppState on individual task agreemtns that utilize the knowledge and expertise of our students and recent graduates. Stay tuned as this program takes off during 2025!