Rural Heritage Resilience Workshop 2026
Join us at Texas A&M for the Rural Heritage Resilience Workshop, October 26-27th. Explore community-driven strategies to preserve our historic landscapes against hazards through research-driven, actionable, and collaborative resilience.
Safeguarding Rural Heritage: Collaborative Strategies for Resilience Against Natural Hazards
Rural communities are shaped by rich and diverse cultural histories, including Indigenous, African diasporic, Latinx, European, and more recent immigrant influences. Cultural heritage in these places is varied and locally defined, but what counts as heritage from community perspectives, and how might it be affected by natural hazards? A community-based approach can help residents identify what matters, why it matters, and how it should be protected, fostering a broader and more inclusive vision of shared heritage. This workshop brings together key stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities at the intersection of hazards and heritage.
Day 1 – Oct. 26
1:00 – 6:30 pmSetting the stage for collaborative and bottom-up discussions on strategies to protect heritage sites while considering the impact of climate change and evolving risks. They include the definition of a vision and a mission, supported by strategies and tactics, to foster a shared action plan with related tasks among the selected communities.
- David Preziosi, FAICP, Hon. AIA Dallas – Keynote
- Panel 1: What’s at risk? Challenges and Opportunities for Preserving Heritage during Extreme Events
- William Dupont, FAIA – Keynote
Day 2 – Oct. 27
8:00 am – 5:00 pmThis program segment bridges academic research and community practice to develop actionable strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage. Through expert panels, participatory activities, and collaborative planning, sessions will identify research gaps and translate findings into practice.
- Panel 2: Current and Future Directions in Disaster and Heritage Research: An Academic Perspective
- Donna Carter, FAIA – Keynote
- Panel 3: Translating Research into Practice: A Community Perspective on Solution Thinking
Location: Annenberg Presidential Conference Center
Keynote Speakers
David Preziosi, FAICP, Hon. AIA Dallas
Keynote: David Preziosi, FAICP, Hon. AIA Dallas
David Preziosi, FAICP, Hon. AIA Dallas, is the President and CEO of the Texas Historical Foundation, where he directs statewide grantmaking for historic architecture, archaeology, and artifact conservation. A 2020 Outstanding Alumnus of Texas A&M University College of Architecture, he holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design, a Master’s in Urban Planning, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation, all from Texas A&M University. His background includes serving as Executive Director of Preservation Dallas and leading the Mississippi Heritage Trust, where he coordinated emergency stabilization frameworks for historic structures devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Beyond his executive leadership, he currently serves as vice-chair of the Dallas Landmark Commission and on the THC State Board of Review for National Register of Historic Places nominations. He is a deeply active voice in the architectural community, serving as the department editor and lead contributor for the “Lost + Found” series in AIA Dallas’s Columns magazine, where he documents and champions the preservation of vulnerable civic and regional landmarks.
William Dupont, FAIA
Keynote: William Dupont, FAIA
William A. Dupont, FAIA, joined the University of Houston in 2025 as Professor of Architecture to establish historic preservation programs. His work advances cultural sustainability, positioning heritage values of people as a core element of a sustainable future. Previously, Bill was the Conservation Society of San Antonio Endowed Professor at UT San Antonio. There he developed the Center for Cultural Sustainability (CCS) to advance research on cultural continuity in the built environment, emphasizing “people are what make a place truly sustainable.” Following Hurricane Harvey, Dupont led a study that produced Disaster-Proof Texas Heritage, a 2023 Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award winner, to enhance resilience at historic houses of worship. Current work engages students and colleagues in heritage planning, documentation, and climate vulnerability assessment at two World Heritage Sites: Mesa Verde National Park and the San Antonio Missions. He also leads a U.S. technical team supporting conservation and resilience at Finca Vigía, Ernest Hemingway’s home in Havana, Cuba. Dupont’s experience encompasses four decades of work in consulting practice, government, nonprofits, and academia, including 11 years as the architect for the National Trust, where he worked on development of historic sites such as Farnsworth House, Glass House, and President Lincoln’s Cottage National Monument.
Donna D. Carter, FAIA
Keynote: Donna D. Carter, FAIA
Donna D. Carter, FAIA, is President of CARTER DESIGN ASSOCIATES in Austin, Texas, specializing in revitalization, historic preservation, and new construction within a community-focused context. She has served on numerous Austin planning and development committees, co-chaired the community-led downtown revitalization effort RUDAT: A Call to Action, and was an original member of the Mueller Development Implementation Commission. Her statewide leadership includes service on the Texas Historical Commission and as past Chair of the State Board of Review, and she is a Fellow of Texas A&M’s Center for Heritage Conservation. A long-time civic volunteer since 1986, Carter has held board and appointed roles with Seton Family of Hospitals (1996–2016), Austin ECHO, and Huston-Tillotson University, and she currently serves on the AIA Austin board. She and her firm have earned multiple design and preservation honors, including a TSA Design Award and a Preservation Texas Award for restoring the Texas & Pacific Terminal Waiting Room in Fort Worth. Carter is a registered architect and interior designer, NCARB-certified, with an M.Arch from UC Berkeley, a BA from Yale, and Ford Foundation Scholar experience at the American University in Cairo.
Panel 1: What’s at risk? Preserving Heritage during Extreme Events
Elyse Zavar
Associate Professor, Director of the Information Science PhD Program, University at AlbanyHer research employs mixed-methods to examine hazard mitigation and long-term disaster recovery, especially related to flood buyout and climate-induced acquisition programs. Of particular interest are the ways in which communities commemorate past loss, including relocations, and the role of commemoration in reducing risk to future events.
Jeff Fugate
Associate Professor of Extension, College of Design, University of KentuckyHe led the Lexington Downtown Development Authority and is an expert in urbanism and affordable housing. Applying community-engaged design to social and climate challenges is his passion. He is experienced in community outreach, successfully bridging academia and local populations through initiatives like Studio Louisville and Studio Appalachia.
Sam Collins III
He is a 7th-generation Texan (roots to 1837), owns SLC Investment Services and has provided financial consulting in Galveston County for 24 years. Named 2015 Citizen of the Year, he advances historic preservation, serves National Trust advisors, and leads Juneteenth, Sugar Land 95, and Levi Jordan Plantation initiatives.
Dan R. Valenzuela
Deputy Chef Architect, Historic Sites Division, Texas Historical CommissioDan brings nearly 30 years of experience in architectural preservation, documentation, and cultural resource management. His work spans historic resource surveys, condition assessments, design and construction administration.
As an architect for the THC, reviews and develops preservation projects in within the State’s 42 Historic Sites in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Treatment of Historic Properties,” reflecting his deep commitment to State and Federal preservation standards and policy.
Prior to joining THC, he served as Principal of his private practice, leading design and construction services for diverse preservation projects, and contributes regularly to statewide preservation programs and professional workshops.
Panel 2: An Academic Perspective on Current and Future Directions
Ronald Schumann III
Associate Professor, Dept. of Emergency Management and Disaster Science, University of North TexasHe is a human geographer studying long-term community recovery, social vulnerability, and cultural memory post-disaster. His research spans US hurricane and wildfire impacts on housing and risk reduction. He currently researches California post-wildfire recovery and tornado resilience for mobile home residents in the Southeast. Additionally, he conducts research and volunteers with the African American Legacy Committee at Historic Rosedale in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ronald R Hagelman III
Professor, Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies, Texas State UniversityHe specializes in human geography, natural hazards, and urban environmental management. His research investigates social responses to acute and chronic environmental changes, with a focus on the U.S. Gulf Coast. He has conducted extensive studies on post-disaster recovery, including tourism economics after Hurricane Harvey and evacuation behaviors during Hurricane Katrina.
Amy Potter
Associate Professor, School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, Georgia Southern UniversityLeading researcher of cultural landscapes in the U.S. South and Caribbean, focusing on climate change, migration, and public memory. She co-authored Remembering Enslavement and collaborates on an NSF project exploring African American museums. Her recent work includes the Tybee Island Black History Trail and Barbudan land rights research.
Jayur Madhusudan Mehta
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Florida State UniversityHis research focuses into mediating coastal hazards for Indigenous communities along the Gulf South and restoring the health of fisheries through paleo-environmental reconstruction of ancient fisheries and ecosystems. He is also studying coastal marsh ecology and anthropogenic biodiversity at two National Estuarine Research Reserves, one in Apalachicola, Florida and another in Grand Bay, Mississippi. In addition, he has a long-term project studying household archaeology at Evergreen, a former sugar plantation in Louisiana.
Panel 3: A Community Perspective on Translating Research
Kelly de Schaun
CVB Director, South Padre Island Convention & Visitors BureauKelley is the Executive Director of Visit South Padre Island, bringing more than 20 years of international tourism leadership and destination management experience across the Caribbean and Gulf Coast, specializing in tourism marketing, community outreach, infrastructure planning, sustainability, and economic development. Kelly previously served as CEO of Visit Galveston for 11 years, helping lead recovery after Hurricane Ike and growing visitation significantly, and chaired the Texas Travel Alliance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, she led the Lone Star Coastal Alliance to advance a multi-county outdoor recreation and heritage initiative.
Lisa Johnson
County Judge, Hemphill County, TexasJudge Johnson led Hemphill County through historic, million-acre wildfires that severely impacted the Panhandle’s agricultural economy and infrastructure. Her firsthand leadership during this crisis offers the panel critical insights into large-scale rural disaster response, economic resilience, and long-term resource recovery.
Brian M. Davis
Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, Executive DirectorAt Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation, Brian manages statewide advocacy and the Revolving Fund program he established in his home state in 2015 – a critical tool for acquiring, stabilizing, and protecting endangered historic properties. He previously worked in architecture firms in Houston and Galveston, and later directed preservation efforts at the Historic Salisbury Foundation (NC) and the Galveston Historical Foundation. He authored the book Lost Galveston in 2010 and was a member of the GHF team assisting with recovery following Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Larissa Santoro, LEED AP
Architect, Federal Emergency Management AgencyLarissa is an architect in the Building Science Division at FEMA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Through post-disaster research and data, she is responsible for creating new publications and trainings to advance mitigation strategies to strengthen community resilience. She has experience in recovery operations with on-the-ground leadership in the field and managing Public Assistance grants for major disasters including Hurricanes Sandy and Maria in Regions 1 and 2.
Charlie Cook
Floodplain Management & Insurance Division Branch Chief, FEMA Region 6Charlie is the Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch Chief for FEMA Region 6. In this role, he leads outreach and provides technical assistance to help communities build to or above flood-resilient standards. Previously, he served as a Community Planning and Capacity Building Coordinator and worked in Region 6 Individual Assistance, supporting survivors and long-term disaster housing missions for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike.
Advisory Committee
- Andrew Rumbach, Ph.D. – Senior Fellow and Co-Lead of the Climate and Communities program, Urban Institute
- William (Bill) Lovekamp, Ph.D. – Professor of Sociology, Eastern Illinois University
- Jayur Mehta Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Anthropology, Florida State University
- Simonne Richson – Recovery Planning Coordinator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Larissa Santoro – Architect, Building Sciences, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Marco Valle – Managing Director, Head of Innovation in Culture, Society & PA, LINKS Foundation
- Sandra Fatoric, Ph.D. – Consultant for UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), Former Leiden University
- William DuPont, FAIA – UTSA Center for Cultural Sustainability
- Ronald Schumann III, Ph.D. – Associate Professor of Emergency Management and Disaster Science, University of North Texas
- Jamie Crawley, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB – Texas Main Street Architect and Design Lead, Texas Historical Commission
House flipped in 1900 Galveston hurricane.
Schedule – Tentative
The symposium opens on the afternoon of Monday, October 26, and continues through a full day on Tuesday, October 27. The first day is open to the public while the second is reserved for private workshop registrants.
Day 1: October 26th
- Registration (12:30-1) (Lobby)
- Opening Session: Context and Goals (1-1:15) (Hagler)
- Keynote Presentation (1:15-2:15) (Hagler)
- Panel 1: What’s at risk? Challenges and Opportunities for Preserving Heritage during Extreme Events (2:30-4) (Hagler)
- Keynote Presentation (4:15-5:15) (Hagler)
- Reception and Research Posters (5:15-6:30) (Lobby)
Day 2: October 27th
- Breakfast and Agenda Setting for the Participatory Activities (8-9) (1011B)
- Panel 2: Current and Future Directions in Disaster and Heritage Research: An Academic Perspective (9-10:30) (1011B)
- Focused Discussion and Participatory Activity 1 (10:30-12) (1011B)
- Lunch and Keynote Presentation (12-1) (1011B)
- Panel 3: Translating Research into Practice: A Community Perspective on Solution Thinking (1:15-2:45) (1011B)
- Focused Discussion and Participatory Activity 2 (2:45-4:30) (1011B)
- Closing Remarks and Next Steps (4:30-5) (1011B)
Leadership Team
