National cultural resources expert joins DCP

December 18, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) at the University of Florida is pleased to announce that Janet Snyder Matthews will be joining the college’s Historic Preservation Program in January.

Matthews will serve as “Scholar in Residence” in conjunction with the Center for World Heritage Research and Stewardship. She will help to develop and teach new courses, conduct research, advise students and assist with UF’s initiatives in St. Augustine.

For the last six years, Matthews has been serving the country as associate director of Cultural Resources and keeper of the National Register for Historic Places for the National Park Service, the nation’s premier agency for historic preservation.

Under her direction, the number of Historic Landmarks reached 2,461 and the number of properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places increased to 85,001. She is well known in Florida where she led historic preservation efforts as the State Historic Preservation Officer of the Florida Department of State, taught history and theory of historic preservation at Florida State University and produced scholarly books and articles on Florida architectural history and its conservation.

In 2007, she was awarded the Beinecke-Reeves Distinguished Achievement Award by the UF Historic Preservation Program. The award honors the professional who most embodies the “spirit of historic preservation” in Florida.

Matthews received her Ph.D. in history from Florida State University and has published widely in the field of Florida history and preservation.

In welcoming Matthews into the faculty, the director of the DCP historic preservation program, Roy Eugene Graham, FAIA, praised her hard work to protect and conserve cultural heritage throughout the country.

“This appointment is an important opportunity for the advancement of the program,” he said. “Jan’s considerable experience will be utilized in new courses on government and law in historic preservation, and her research experience will highly compliment the Ph.D. program. The UF program is one of the most multi-disciplinary in the nation and Jan’s background in history will further enhance that advantage.”