Jenrette Foundation interns join ACHP in 2025
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) welcomes talented interns funded by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation this year, who will contribute significantly to its mission of preserving and protecting the nation’s historic resources.
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is an independent federal agency established in 1966 by the National Historic Preservation Act. ACHP promotes the preservation, enhancement, and productive use of the nation's historic resources. It advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy. The ACHP encourages federal agencies to consider historic preservation in federal project requirements and ensures that they act as responsible stewards of the nation's historic resources when their actions affect historic properties.
The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation’s funding of these three ACHP interns underscores the critical role that research, education, and community engagement play in preserving our nation’s heritage. Through their unique contributions, Pai Liu, Sara Wilson, and Jasmine Dunbar will help shape the future of historic preservation by advocating for stronger protections of burial sites, developing educational resources, and engaging with communities to safeguard their cultural legacy. Their work will not only contribute to the ACHP’s mission but will also have a lasting impact on the preservation of American history for generations to come.
Summer 2025
Ivana Genov is a joint J.D./M.A. candidate in Cultural Heritage and Preservation at Rutgers Law School and the Rutgers Department of Art History. She earned her BA in Classical Studies and Art History from William & Mary, where she completed an honors thesis exploring ritual and identity at ancient Greco-Roman archaeological sites. At Rutgers, her research focuses on the destruction of heritage sites during armed conflict and the legal responses to cultural loss. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of cultural heritage law, historic preservation, and the restitution of cultural property. She brings experience from Christie’s auction house, where she supported legal compliance and international regulation, as well as from her time working in museums and nonprofits focused on arts and community outreach.
Ivana is particularly passionate about using the law as a tool to safeguard heritage and support communities seeking the return and protection of culturally significant sites and objects. Through her internship with the Office of General Counsel, she will update the ACHP’s Section 106 caselaw book from 2021 to present and carry out caselaw research on Section 106 (and possibly National Environmental Policy Act) cases where the court found the agency achieved the intent and purpose of the regulatory process despite missing procedural steps. Ivana also will assist in updating and providing additional recommendations for the ACHP’s Guidance on Agreement Documents and other Section 106 guidance.
Carlotta Wright is a PhD candidate in History at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in Indigenous and legal history. She completed her BA and Master of Philosophy in American History at the University of Cambridge before beginning her doctoral studies. Her dissertation explores how 19th century railroad expansion reshaped Native American land use, labor systems, and U.S. federal policy, emphasizing the role of infrastructure and the built environment in structuring historical memory. Her interest in historic preservation was sparked by a course she took on Indigenizing Cultural Heritage Management and Land Stewardship her first year at Berkeley, where she gained insight into the history and application of Section 106, particularly involving Indigenous communities.
Carlotta also volunteers as a researcher and translator with East Bay Sanctuary Covenant and the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, supporting migrant and Indigenous rights locally. This summer, she will join the Office of Tribal and Indigenous Peoples to conduct an in-depth review of the agency’s policies related to its work with Indigenous communities. Her work will focus on ensuring consistency in language and alignment with current laws and policies, as well as identifying opportunities to incorporate concepts from newer Indigenous-focused policies and producing recommendations to streamline and update existing guidance.
Spring 2025
Pai Liu
Pai Liu, a legal research intern, is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor degree at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. Expected to graduate in May 2025, Pai has already demonstrated impressive academic and professional achievements. As a Law and Public Policy Scholar, she has authored a forthcoming article, Expanding the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to the U.S. Territories, which will be published in the NYU Journal of Legislation and Public Policy later this year.
Her internship with ACHP will focus on supporting the implementation of the council’s Policy Statement on Burial Sites, Human Remains, and Funerary Objects in African-American communities. Pai will conduct extensive research into state and local laws related to burial sites, compiling new and existing data, and assisting in the development of a matrix identifying the states and local governments with the strongest protections for historic burial grounds. Her work will also address the challenges faced by living descendants regarding access, maintenance, and local engagement with burial sites. Additionally, Pai will help produce recommendations on how the archaeological disturbance of cemeteries impacts descendant communities and will highlight successful strategies for mitigating harm.
Pai’s prior experience as a legal intern with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Merit Systems Protection Board, along with her role as a regulatory analyst at the Public Utility Commission of Texas, will be invaluable in supporting ACHP’s efforts to advocate for stronger protection of burial sites.
Sara Wilson
Sara Wilson, the archaeology/anthropology intern, is a Master’s student at the University of Virginia, where she is pursuing a degree in Architectural History and a Historic Preservation certificate. As a Public History Fellow, Sara combines her strong background in anthropology with a deep commitment to preserving historical sites. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Davidson College, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Sara’s internship will involve conducting research into burial sites and the preservation of cultural heritage in African-American communities. She will work alongside Pai Liu to explore the impact of state and local laws on burial grounds, contributing both qualitative and quantitative data. Additionally, Sara’s expertise in archaeological methods will assist in identifying challenges faced by descendants in engaging with and maintaining burial sites. Prior to her internship, Sara successfully located a cemetery and houses of enslaved people at Beaver Dam in Davidson, utilizing non-invasive archaeological techniques. She also contributed to the restoration of a 19th-century cholera cemetery, working with descendants to engage the community in preservation efforts.
Sara’s work at ACHP will provide vital insights into the intersection of archaeology, anthropology, and historic preservation, as well as the importance of engaging communities in preserving their own heritage.
Jasmine Dunbar
Jasmine Dunbar, the third intern, will work with the Office of Communications, Education, and Outreach (OCEO) at ACHP. Jasmine is pursuing a Master of Science in Library and Information Science at Old Dominion University, having already earned a Master of Arts in Museum Studies and a Graduate Certificate in African American Studies from the University of Kansas. With a Bachelor’s degree in History from Norfolk State University, Jasmine is a museum professional with extensive experience in designing educational programs and resources.
Her internship will focus on engaging K-12 students with history and historic preservation. Jasmine will conduct research into educational best practices and create tools for teachers to engage their students in the preservation of cultural heritage. Her projects will include developing lesson plans, web-based teacher toolkits, and educational materials for different age groups, such as activity booklets for young students and graphic novels for older learners. She will also produce short videos on careers in historic preservation and the importance of preserving historic sites.
Jasmine’s background in museum studies and African American history, combined with her experience working with educators and librarians, makes her well-suited to inspire the next generation of preservationists and historians. Her work will provide valuable resources for educators to foster a preservation ethic in young people across the country.