Blue Ridge Conservancy Adds Tana McLean to Stewardship Team

Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Tana McLean as the organization’s first Stewardship Associate. A native of Raleigh, McLean holds a Master of Science In Sustainability and Environment from UNC Greensboro, and has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources with a concentration in Policy and Administration and a minor in Environmental Science from North Carolina State University. 

Her professional career includes land stewardship, environmental monitoring, and regulatory support experience with Northern Forest Canoe Trail, the Eno River Association, and HB Next. McLean joins the stewardship team to support Director of Stewardship Ben Lucas in the yearly monitoring, management, and protection of over 200 conservation easements and preserves. 

“BRC is excited to welcome Tana to the team. Expanding our stewardship capacity is critical as our portfolio of conserved lands continues to grow and the challenges of caring for these protected properties become increasingly complex,” says Lucas. “Tana's experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors will be a tremendous asset to our stewardship program.” 

According to McLean: “I am beyond excited to join the BRC team as Stewardship Associate. As a North Carolina native, a lover of the mountains, and someone deeply passionate about land conservation, this role feels like a natural fit and an incredible opportunity to do work that truly matters. BRC’s mission and commitment to protecting the High Country resonate deeply with me, and I’m incredibly honored to join such a dedicated team and contribute to preserving this special place for generations to come.”