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2024 Historic Preservation Scholar

SCHOLAR OPPORTUNITY

2024 HISTORIC PRESERVATION STUDENT SCHOLAR

Are you seeking a unique opportunity to work with experienced professionals with the American Planning Association Urban Design and Preservation Division and National Trust for Historic Preservation to explore the intersection of planning, preservation, and change? Are you interested in updating APA’s official policies and advocacy positions to be relevant to the current issues at that intersection?

The APA Urban Design and Preservation Division seeks a graduate student scholar to work with its Historic Preservation Committee for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Application deadline: August 16, 2024

Program Basics

  • This year’s Historic Preservation Scholarship will span nine months, from September 2024 to June 2025.
  • This year's focus will be to provide support for the Division’s effort to prepare an update to the 1997 APA Historic and Cultural Resources Policy for APA Board adoption.
  • Scholar will receive an anticipated stipend of up to $2,500 (estimated 3-4 hours/week for 34 weeks).
  • Scholar will be highlighted in our Division Newsletter and APA web page.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be a current graduate student in a field related to urban planning or historic preservation. We seek scholars interested in the relationship between historic preservation and current planning issues such as affordable housing, equity and inclusion, economic development, sustainability, and climate adaptation.
  • Applicants must be able to commit to an average of 3 hours a week (with variations described below) and to attend virtual monthly Historic Preservation Committee meetings. The amount of work per week will vary, and while it is likely that much of the work will occur mid-late fall semester and early spring semester, there will likely be other weeks when no work will be required.

Tasks and Responsibilities

  • Assisting in developing an update to the 1997 Policy and other documents as needed by reviewing and compiling research; drafting summaries and documents in support of an engagement effort seeking input from APA members and other professionals; and providing logistics for hosting online convenings and workshops to discuss key observations and findings.
  • Tasks may also include organizing professional panels and webinars, preparing key findings, writing high-quality articles ready for publication, and conducting interviews professionally.

Desired Qualifications

  • Strong written, analytical, and organizational skills
  • Academic and professional interest in the intersection of historic preservation and current planning issues such as affordable housing, equity and inclusion, economic development, sustainability, and climate adaptation.
  • Research skills using identified and published sources and summarizing key findings and survey results to share with the Committee and other groups.
  • Ability to work independently after given basic guidance on tasks.

Application Requirements

  • Resume
  • Personal Statement (max. 300 words) – Explain your familiarity with and professional interest in historic preservation and current planning issues. Highlight any experience you have writing planning documents, preparing short articles for the public, and organizing outreach or engagement.
  • Provide a writing sample on a related subject. Max 10 pages.
  • Name and contact information for two academic or professional references who could speak to your appropriateness for this position.
  • Letter or other official confirmation such as an email from your department chair or academic advisor confirming you will be enrolled in a related graduate program during the Fall and Spring 2024-25 term. The letter/confirmation should be submitted with your application (if possible); or must be received by September 1, 2024, before being selected for the fellowship.

Application requirements should be sent as PDF attachments in one single email message to Elizabeth Morton, Elizabeth.morton@gwu.edu, by August 16, 2024.

Our goal is to promote interest and career development for emerging urban planning and preservation professionals by providing an opportunity to work with senior leadership professionals and contribute to Division activities.