Division architectural historian Kara Briggs completes historic-preservation fellowship
In late February 2018, Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs architectural historian Kara Briggs received notification that she had successfully completed the ARCUS Professional Fellowship program which offers online leadership-development courses and networking opportunities that strengthen the skills of emerging leaders in the cultural heritage and historic preservation movement. Courses included training to develop plans and tactics to craft effective (preservation) advocacy strategies, and to utilize the collective impact framework to solve preservation challenges, practice risk mitigation and develop evaluation techniques. She began the fellowship in March 2017 and completed her studies in January 2018.
Briggs has been a member of the division’s State Historic Preservation Office staff since 2016. Her duties include conducting cultural-resource reviews of federally funded or permitted projects for Section 106 compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act for historical and architectural properties; providing coordination services with state designated certified local governments; management of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program; and oversight of division-held historic-preservation easements including monitoring and enforcing easement provisions, providing technical assistance to property owners and negotiating new easements.
Briggs holds a master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy with a concentration in historic preservation from the University of Delaware where she also earned certificates in museum studies and human-subjects training. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the Savannah College of Art and Design.