Welcome to the New Jersey History and Historic Preservation Conference

Featured Speakers

Sara C. Bronin

Sara C. Bronin was confirmed by unanimous consent by the United States Senate in December 2022 to serve as the 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. A Mexican American, she is the first person of color to serve in this position. 

Prior to her confirmation, Chair Bronin spent her career as a professor and public servant. Her interdisciplinary research in the areas of property, land use, historic preservation, and energy has focused on how law and policy can foster more equitable, sustainable, well-designed, and connected places. She has published five books and treatises and dozens of articles, book chapters, and shorter works on these topics. She also founded the National Zoning Atlas, which aims to translate and standardize information about how zoning regulates housing in around 30,000 jurisdictions nationally. 

While chairing the ACHP, she is on leave from her tenured position at Cornell University, where she serves as Professor in the College of Architecture Art & Planning, Professor in the Rubacha Department of Real Estate, an Associate Faculty Member of the Law School, and a member of the Graduate Faculty in the Field of Architecture. At Cornell, she founded and directs the Legal Constructs Lab, serves as a faculty fellow of the Atkinson Center for Sustainability, and is an affiliate of the Cornell Center for Social Sciences. She has also held visiting positions at the Yale School of Architecture and the University of Pennsylvania Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. 

Among other nonprofit service, she has served as an advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Sustainable Development Code, served on the board of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, and founded Desegregate Connecticut. In addition, she chaired Preservation Connecticut and led the nationally recognized efforts of the City of Hartford to draft and adopt a climate action plan, city plan, and zoning code overhaul. In addition, Chair Bronin has consulted for public and private entities, including on zoning reform, project construction, and litigation strategy. 

Chair Bronin received a J.D. from Yale Law School, where she used her Harry S Truman Scholarship for Public Service. She received an M.Sc. in Economic and Social History from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. She received a B.Arch. and B.A. in the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin.                                                                    

Chair Bronin is a seventh-generation Texan, born and raised in and around Houston. She is the daughter of a public-school teacher and civil engineer, and she grew up working in her grandparents’ Mexican restaurant. 

Darley Newman

Darley Newman is recognized in Forbes for her “PBS media empire.” Darley Newman, a trailblazing entrepreneur and multi-platform host, is celebrated for her groundbreaking work in media. With a dedication to both exploration and narrative, Darley has created compelling series that transcend borders, broadcasting and streaming on PBS, Amazon Prime, Ovation TV, and in over 85 nations. Her Emmy Award-winning productions, “Travels with Darley” and “Equitrekking,” have solidified her status as a leading voice in the industry. Darley’s recent architectural and historical series, “Look up with Darley,” earned an Emmy nomination, further highlighting her versatility. 

Beyond her extensive catalog of 72 half-hour episodes of “Travels with Darley,” she ventures into new territories, guiding audiences through destinations tied to the American Revolution for “Revolutionary Road Trips” and iconic Route 66. Her engaging livestreams and events with Smithsonian Associates routinely draw sold-out crowds, exploring themes ranging from Civil Rights Trail history in Alabama to sustainable adventures in Santa Fe to culinary delights in Tokyo. 

A respected author and media figure, Darley’s work has garnered widespread acclaim, earning recognition from prestigious publications like Success Magazine, NPR, and The Washington Post. She has graced the screens of national networks such as Today Show and FOX, CBS, and NBC affiliates. 

In addition to seven Emmy nominations, Darley’s contributions to travel journalism have earned her the North American Travel Journalist Award and the Inspiring Woman Award from Women in Philanthropy and Leadership. She is a two-time Telly Award recipient and a member of the Taste Awards Hall of Fame. 

Darley’s adventurous spirit has led her to oversee productions in over 30 nations and 26 states, where she’s encountered exhilarating challenges, from facing charging elephants in Botswana to exploring the depths of South Korea’s waters. 

Speakers

Carly Adler

Carly Adler joined Hunter Research, Inc. in June 2022 as an Architectural Historian/Historian. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s program in Historic Preservation (M.S., 2022) and the […]

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Lynn Alpert

Lynn Alpert is a Principal Senior Architectural Historian and the Co-Director of Historic Architectural Services at Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc. She received a M.S. in Historic Preservation from the […]

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Jennifer Arnoldi

Jennifer Arnoldi is a Senior Associate and Project Manager with Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC. She works principally on the restoration and rehabilitation of existing buildings, both historic and contemporary. […]

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Joe Baker

Joe Baker is an artist, educator, curator, and culture bearer who has been working in the field of Native Arts for the past thirty years. He is an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe […]

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Meghan MacWillliams Baratta

Meghan MacWillliams Baratta is a Program Specialist 4 with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (HPO). Meghan has worked in a professional position at the HPO since 1999, when she received […]

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Kathleen M. Bennett

Kathleen M. Bennett is the Chairperson of the Montclair Historic Preservation Commission.  She holds a BA in Fine Arts Education and an MA in Decorative Art History from the Cooper/Hewitt, […]

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Carin Berkowitz

Carin Berkowitz is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH), an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization devoted to supporting and promoting the humanities across the state […]

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Brian Blazak

Brian Blazak is a historic preservation professional and Commissioner of the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), where his tenure since 2018 has included two terms as Chair. Prior to […]

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Stephanie Brisita

Stephanie Brisita is a Program Specialist with the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office, where she helps review national register nominations for listing in the New Jersey and National Registers […]

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Sara C. Bronin

Sara C. Bronin was confirmed by unanimous consent by the United States Senate in December 2022 to serve as the 12th chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. A Mexican American, […]

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Cailyn Bruno

Cailyn Bruno developed expertise in environmental investigations and remediation of brownfields during her 16 years in the consulting industry. At NJIT, she uses her brownfield expertise in a nonprofit capacity […]

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Lynne Calamia

Lynne Calamia is a leader in the field of Public History with more than a decade of broad, hands-on experience. She is committed to building strong, sustainable organizations and uses […]

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Daniella Carter

Daniella Carter is a dedicated LGBTQ+ youth advocate, serving as Director, Producer, and Creative Producer. She’s spoken at TED Talks Love, TEDxABQ, and TEDxMidAtlantic. Daniella appeared in a Puma campaign alongside […]

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Frank F. Caruso

Frank F. Caruso has served as an appointed member of the Burlington City Historic Preservation Commission since 2016 and was recently voted Chair in 2023. Mr. Caruso is also a […]

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Kinney Clark

Kinney Clark is a GIS Specialist with the NJ State Historic Preservation Office coordinating cultural resources GIS development and other information management initiatives. He also participates in HPO’s annual federal […]

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Maureen Crowley

Maureen Crowley is a founder, first president, and current coordinator of the Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Stem Embankment Preservation Coalition and is its representative to the Jersey City Parks Coalition. The […]

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Allee Davis

Allee Davis is a Principal Senior Architectural Historian and the Co-Director of Historic Architectural Services at Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc. She received a M.S. in Historic Preservation from the […]

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Danielle De Laurentis

Danielle De Laurentis has been directing programs and funds at The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) for fifteen years. She is involved in all aspects of the organization, working […]

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Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz

Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz is the Vice President of Collections and Public Engagement at Stratford Hall and a Visiting Scholar in the Department of African American Studies at U.C. Berkeley. […]

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Julia (Julie) Diddell

Julia (Julie) Diddell is appearing as a member of the Westfield Historical Society. She has been a Westfield, NJ resident since 1984.   Among the many organizations for which she is […]

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Barry Doll

Barry Doll is a veteran of the US Army and a former CPA. Upon graduating from St John’s University, Barry worked for a small CPA firm in Manhattan. After one year, […]

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Vincent Dominach

Vince Dominach Jr. is currently the Economic Development Director for Franklin Township in Somerset County. For the past 35 years, Vince has held a variety of positions in local government […]

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Stephen Dunn

Stephen Dunn is founding member and current President of Union County Connects (UCC). Founded in 2021, UCC is a non-profit organization that promotes active transportation, community engagement, and historical preservation […]

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Catherine Dzubaty

Catherine Dzubaty is a Program Specialist with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. She joined HPO staff in 2021 as a member of the Registration Section and reviews Preliminary Applications […]

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Dara Epison

Dara Epison joined Friends of the Rail Park as a Community Development Coordinator during her 2023-24 PHENND AmeriCorps VISTA fellowship. Her work involves recruiting and managing The Rail Park’s volunteer […]

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Erin Frederickson

Erin Frederickson is a Program Specialist with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. In her role as an above-ground project reviewer, she assesses the effects of undertakings pursuant to state […]

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Mark Garner

Mark Garner is originally from Williamsburg, VA. He is a principal at Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects.  Located in New York City, Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects is an award-winning design practice and studio that works across […]

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Andrew Gustafson

Andrew Gustafson is a researcher, tour guide, and the vice president of Turnstile Tours & Studio, a social enterprise consultancy that works with non-profit and cultural organizations to build capacity […]

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Dorothy P. Guzzo

Dorothy P. Guzzo

Dorothy P. Guzzo, is the former Executive Director for the New Jersey Historic Trust. The Trust provides matching grants for capital preservation projects and funds heritage tourism initiatives. Prior to […]

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Margaret M. Hickey

Margaret M. Hickey, AIA, serves as the Principal Historic Preservation Specialist for the firm of Connolly & Hickey Historical Architects and is responsible for ensuring projects comply with the Standards. […]

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Eric Holtermann

Eric Holtermann is a principal at HMR Architects in Princeton, NJ. He has worked on both new and historic projects throughout his career, with a particular interest in the integration […]

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Bobbi Hornbeck

Bobbi Hornbeck is a native of Cape May County, NJ, with a passion for exploring the intersections of historical preservation, identity, and landscape use. Currently, she is a Teaching Specialist […]

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Ben Hornstra

Ben Hornstra is an archaeologist with the NV5 Cultural Resources Group in Parsippany, NJ and a Graduate Student at Montclair State University. Ben has worked on multiple large urban archaeology […]

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Jean Howson

Jean Howson is a Principal Archaeologist at NV5, a nationwide engineering and architectural consulting company with a Cultural Resources Group in Parsippany, NJ. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from […]

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Debbie Kelly

Debbie Kelly has been on the Machestic Dragons team since spring of 2013, and just completed her first year as a board member. She is a 9-year breast cancer survivor. Her activities […]

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Elizabeth J. Kennedy

Elizabeth J. Kennedy, FASLA, RLA, is a Design Trust for Public Space Research Fellow and the 2022 recipient of the Landscape Architecture Foundation Medal, which honors a career of distinguished […]

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Peggy King Jorde

Peggy King Jorde is an activist and cultural projects consultant with an international practice in cultural heritage protection, memorialization, and advocacy for marginalized communities. King Jorde led early efforts to […]

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Kurt Leasure

Kurt Leasure is an Associate and Project Manager with HMR Architects. He works primarily on the restoration and rehabilitation of historic buildings from the preparation of preservation planning documents through […]

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Jennifer B. Leynes

Jennifer B. Leynes is a Program Specialist with the NJ Historic Preservation Office. Her responsibilities include project review under state and federal preservation regulations, as well as the review of […]

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Marc Lorenc

Marc Lorenc, Ph.D. is the Chief Public Historian at the New Jersey Historical Commission overseeing multiple aspects of RevolutionNJ, New Jersey’s official commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding […]

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Ken Lustbader

Ken Lustbader is a co-founder and co-director of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, an award-winning cultural heritage initiative and educational resource that is documenting and memorializing LGBTQ site-based history […]

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Joe Macasek

Joe Macasek is President of the Canal Society of New Jersey, former President of the Roebling Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology, on the Morris County Heritage Commission, and […]

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Jessica Striebel MacLean

Jessica Striebel MacLean is an Urban Archaeologist with the New York City Landmarks Commission and the NYC Archaeological Repository that is responsible for the care of archaeological collections excavated in […]

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Kate Marcopul

Kate Marcopul is currently the NJ Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer and the Manager of the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (NJHPO) which is responsible for the identification, protection, and […]

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Tanya Marione

Tanya Marione currently serves as the Director of the Division of City Planning for the City of Jersey City and has held various positions within the Division for the last […]

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Christopher H. Marston

Christopher H. Marston has been an architect with the National Park Service’s Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) since 1989 and has led HAER teams recording a variety of sites, from […]

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Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews is a historical archaeologist and professor of anthropology at Montclair State University. His work is focused on the archaeology and history of marginalized and racialized communities in North […]

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Valentina Miller

Valentina Miller is the Production Lead at Night Kitchen Interactive. She has launched dozens of digital projects for museums, science centers, and cultural institutions over the past six years and […]

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Aidita Milsted

Aidita Milsted currently serves as Director of Historic Preservation at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) where she is responsible for the implementation and management of the Historic Property […]

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Michelle Moon

Michelle Moon, principal of Saltworks Interpretive Consulting, offers a distinctive approach to crafting powerful museum experiences. Drawing from pivotal roles at institutions like the Tenement Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, and […]

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Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika

Bonnie-Lynn Nadzeika has a Bachelor’s degree in history from the College of New Jersey and a Master’s degree in museum Professions from Seton Hall University. She spent 12 years as […]

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William Neumann

William Neumann, CHP has documented the 1832 Paterson Hudson River Rail Road and seeks to preserve its history by developing and preserving the abandoned railway stem that borders the boroughs […]

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Darley Newman

Darley Newman is recognized in Forbes for her “PBS media empire.” Darley Newman, a trailblazing entrepreneur and multi-platform host, is celebrated for her groundbreaking work in media. With a dedication […]

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Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfan

Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfan is Assistant Professor of History at Rutgers University in New Brunswick and coordinator of the Undergraduate Public History Program and Graduate Public Humanities Programs. She researches social and […]

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Maggie O’Neill

Maggie O’Neill currently serves as the Principal Historic Preservation Specialist in the Division of City Planning for the City of Jersey City. Prior to Jersey City, she worked for the […]

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Ted Ritter

Ted Ritter is the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority’s External Affairs Manager.  He represents the NJTPA at official meetings, conferences, and special events; develops creative videos and presentations; and manages […]

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Michael Roberson

Michael Roberson is a public health practitioner, advocate, activist, artist, curator, and leader within the LGBTQ community. He is the co-creator of the nation’s only Black Gay Research group and […]

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Gilda Rogers

Gilda Rogers​​ is a journalist, author & playwright, producer, director, historian and educator. In 2006, she graduated from Monmouth University with an M.A. in History. Since graduating, Gilda has been […]

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Kelly C. Ruffel

Kelly C. Ruffel, is the Director of the Department of Cultural & Historic Affairs for the County of Passaic, and serves as the Assistant County Administrator. In her role, she […]

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Susan Ryan

Susan Ryan is a licensed architect in the State of New Jersey. She received her Bachelor’s in Architecture from Kent State University and an M.S. Historic Preservation from Columbia University. […]

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Angelica Santomauro

Angelica Santomauro has been the Executive Director of the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark since July 1992. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, Santomauro taught in […]

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Justin Scalera

Justin Scalera is a photographer for the National Park Service’s Heritage Documentation Programs (HABS/HAER/HALS). He has been with the programs since 2018, first working as a summer intern, and then […]

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Nicholas Schiavone

Nicholas Schiavone has been a Hard Hat Educator with Save Ellis Island for over 5 years. He began after retiring from a 30+ year career with the New York City […]

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Tom Sexton

Tom Sexton is the Northeast Regional Director of the Rails to Trails Conservancy who oversees the program in ten states including New Jersey. Tom communicates with volunteers, local officials, planners, […]

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Sean Smith

Sean Smith is an Associate Professor at the City University of New York – Lehman College. He earned his B.S., M.S., and M.B.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University–where he now serves […]

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Amanda Sutphin

Amanda Sutphin is an Urban Archaeologist and serves as the Director of Archaeology at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, the largest municipal preservation agency in the nation. Amanda oversees the […]

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Kristin Swanton

Kristin Swanton is a Principal Environmental Specialist with the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Syracuse University in Anthropology and Religion with […]

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Andrea Tingey

Andrea Tingey is a Program Specialist 3 with the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office. Her current responsibilities include coordinating the New Jersey and National Registers Program. She previously coordinated […]

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Leonardo Vazquez

Leonardo Vazquez, AICP/PP is the Executive Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. He has been helping enhance communities for more than 30 years as an author, community economic […]

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Richard Veit

Richard Veit is Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monmouth University. He received his B.A. from Drew University in 1990, his […]

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Gerald Weinstein

Gerald Weinstein has been documenting and restoring historic industry and engineering sites for over 40 years. Working mainly with industrial archeologists, he has photographed and written histories on scores of […]

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Jesse West-Rosenthal

Jesse West-Rosenthal, Ph.D. is a Program Specialist with the State Historic Preservation Office in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Dr. West-Rosenthal is an archaeologist by training with nearly […]

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Michael Wierzbicki

Michael Wierzbicki is a Senior Project Officer within the Historic Preservation Department at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Since joining the NJEDA in the fall of 2021, he […]

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Melissa Ziobro

Melissa Ziobro is the Director of Public History in the Monmouth University Department of History and Anthropology and the primary point of contact for the University’s public history program. Her […]

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