WASHINGTON, D.C. – Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in-person internships have been canceled around the nation this summer. Despite this reality, the partners in the Preservation in Practice program remain committed to providing historic preservation training to architecture students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) next year.

Preservation in Practice strives to model a comprehensive curriculum for architecture and construction engineering students at HBCUs that directly connects architectural practice to preservation practice and articulates the important and meaningful role architects can play in preserving heritage of all kinds.
 
“I commend the students who were accepted into the 2020 program after undergoing a rigorous selection process and am grateful for their interest in historic preservation,” Chairman Aimee Jorjani said. “We want the students within these special HBCU programs to know that we are very much dedicated to ensuring they get the opportunity to gain historic preservation skills through our program offered by the ACHP, the National Park Service, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. While we must social distance to stay safe at this time, we plan to offer Preservation in Practice next year and beyond.”

A total of 20 students from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, and Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia were selected for 2020 Preservation in Practice, which was canceled due to the pandemic.

From Morgan State University: Courtney Carrington, Dominique Cunningham, Taylor Harvey, Brandon Jones, Durmon Jones, Rasheeda Kanu, Amber Nelson, Dulce Nettey, and Kevin Ufua.

From Tuskegee University: Jalen Carlyle, Stephen Colar, Fernandez Hunter, and Larry Washington.

This year, Hampton University would have participated in the program for the first time. The students selected from Hampton were Trajan Baker, Christian Galindo-Torres, Jayln Grays, Melanie Holguin, Javius Richardson, Kevin Smith, and Jarrett Thomas.

Kwesi Daniels, Department of Architecture Department Head and Assistant Professor at Tuskegee University, was last year’s faculty advisor for the school’s six Preservation in Practice participants.

“The Preservation in Practice program has become a highly anticipated summer experience for the Tuskegee University architecture students, because it provides them with a unique opportunity to travel to the National Parks, gain hands-on experience, and connect with historic preservation professionals around the country,” Daniels said. “We appreciate the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation developing this awesome program. Our students really look forward to participating again soon.”

Dale Glenwood Green, Professor of Practice Lead Faculty for Historic Preservation at Morgan State University, has served as that schools’ Preservation in Practice faculty advisor. Ronald Kloster, Assistant Professor of Architecture at Hampton University was to have served as Hampton’s 2020 program advisor.

Preservation in Practice is a program developed jointly by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s HOPE Crew designed to raise awareness about the importance of historic preservation and conservation, bring African American young professionals into preservation-related careers, and raise awareness of the rich cultural legacy of HBCUs.

Since 2018, a total of 18 students from Morgan State University and Tuskegee University have participated in Preservation in Practice. Some of those students have since received full scholarships to study historic preservation in graduate school, been awarded preservation-related internships and jobs, and focused their architecture education on historic preservation.

The partners are currently working on providing continuing support for the program alumni, such as mentorship and more in-depth educational opportunities.

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