Prior to pursuing a master’s degree in Historic Preservation Planning at Cornell University, I studied history and anthropology and worked in the restoration and maintenance industry as an architectural metal refinisher. While a graduate student, I developed a strong understanding of critical preservation issues in planning, law, and public policy and gained field experience researching, documenting and surveying historic properties, conducting condition assessments, producing measured drawings, and preparing national and state historic register nominations. I also presented several lectures related to my areas of expertise in building materials conservation in addition to the prescribed coursework.

Outside of academic training, I have sought exposure to a diversity of subjects and work environments through internships and professional engagement. In the summer of 2007, I served as a US/ICOMOS International Intern to Scotland, where I worked with a semi-governmental organization to research and report on training and materials resource needs essential to preserving the rich stone-built heritage of that country. This experience inspired my thesis, an inventory of New York’s stone building stock incorporating life-cycle costs analysis of conservation efforts and a labor market needs assessment of the stone masonry trade practicing in that state. My thesis and active interest in traditional building trades and the sustainable management of built resources led me to the co-chairmanship of the US/ICOMOS Committee on Training.

I continued to expand and develop my professional interests as an intern with the National Park Service National Center for Preservation Training and Technology (NCPTT) in Natchitoches, Louisiana. In addition to conducting a laboratory study of commercially available paint removal products for use on historic brick facades, I helped to film a video on the application of limewash in New Orleans’ St. Louis I cemetery and to organize a workshop  environmental adaptations in vernacular design held in Baton Rouge. I further expanded the scope of my job description by becoming actively involved in the Center’s work on preservation trades education and brokered an agreement to use Park Service resources to develop and host a new website and member management system for US/ICOMOS (http://www.usicomos.org).

I continue to pursue my interests by researching and authoring articles on the national shortage of traditional building crafts workers and, through my relationship with US/ICOMOS, am working to develop a web-based international network of heritage conservation training professionals. I am also an active member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Brain Trust”, a focus group concerned with developing new tools for community outreach and information sharing (e.g. http://www.preservapedia.org). As a freelance consultant, my most recent projects include conservation of the stone grave markers (some of which date back to the 17th century) at the Center Church Crypt in New Haven, CT. Read the conservation report online.