About the National Council for Preservation Education

A US federal historic preservation official once noted: "The coordination of education programs is crucial to the success of historic preservation in every town, city, and state across the country."

It was largely for that reason that over twenty years ago a Higher Education Study Group sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation recommended the formation of an association of preservation educators. In response to this call, the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE) was soon established as a non-profit educational corporation chartered in the District of Columbia and committed to these objectives:

• Encouraging and assisting in the development and improvement of historic preservation education programs and endeavors in the United States and elsewhere;
• Coordinating efforts related to preservation education with public and private organizations and interested individuals;
• Facilitating the collection, exchange and dissemination of information and ideas concerning preservation education;
• Creating public awareness of endeavors in preservation education.

The National Council for Preservation Education has developed guidelines for minimum standards in preservation education degree programs. It also sponsors internships, preservation conferences and publishes on a range of preservation topics and issues. Today, the National Council for Preservation Education has over fifty member institutions scattered across the United States. These academic programs in historic preservation and allied fields have educated thousands of students, many of whom have developed professional careers as preservation leaders working for local, state, federal government agencies, non-governmental organizations and in the private sector in the US and elsewhere in the world. Annual membership meetings are held in the fall. For more information of the National Council for Preservation Education, please contact the chair of the NCPE Executive Committee listed above.

The NCPE Guide to Academic Programs in Historic Preservation and Allied Fields is provided as a reference source to assist prospective students in identifying various historic preservation education degree programs in the United States. Further information may be obtained by contacting the particular institutions directly.

James Marston Fitch Awards

The National Council for Preservation Education has honored the following preservation educators for their outstanding achievements:

2000 - Bernd Foerster
2001 - Kevin Jordan
2002 - Marshall McLennan
2003 - David Fogle
2004 - Chester Liebs
2005 - Don Peting
2006 - Lyle Rosenberger
2007 - Hugh Miller

Hugh C. Miller, FAIA is the 2007 recipient of the James Marston Fitch Preservation Education Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Council of Preservation Education. Hugh began teaching historic preservation in 1970 at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. While employed full time by the National Park Service (NPS) as an architect / planner, he organized and presented NPS training programs for managers, professionals and trades mechanics in architectural conservation, landscape preservation and cultural resource management subjects. At the same time he was presenting courses, seminars and workshops at universities and preservation organizations in the U.S. and internationally. Since 1996, Hugh has been teaching preservation technology and supervising thesis at the Masters of Arts in Historic Preservation Program at Goucher College.