Rebecca Miller, is the Executive Director of the DC Preservation League. She holds a B.A. in History and a Master’s in Business Administration and has been with DCPL since 2003. In addition to supervising the day-to-day operations of DCPL, Rebecca represents the organization as a consulting party on Section 106 issues such as the consolidation of the Department of Homeland Security at the National Historic Landmark St. Elizabeths Hospital West Campus, Union Station, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She has also successfully advocated for funding for the restoration of the DC World War I Memorial on the National Mall, and led the organization in pursuing the protection of dozens of individual landmarks and historic districts throughout Washington. Rebecca frequently provides testimony on behalf of DCPL on historic preservation issues before the DC Council, the DC Historic Preservation Review Board, the Commission on Fine Arts, and the National Capital Planning Commission. She also serves as a juror for the annual District of Columbia Awards for Excellence in Historic Preservation.
Kelli Knox, DC Preservation League’s Director of Development oversees partnerships with individual donors and foundations, and helps promote membership at all levels. Prior to joining DCPL in August 2016, Kelli worked for eight years as Deputy Director of Development at the Center for Science in the Public Interest—a public health organization that works to promote a safe, healthy food supply. She’s also worked at the National Endowment for the Arts and The Choral Arts Society of Washington. Kelli holds a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) from James Madison University and a Master of Arts (Arts Administration) from The Florida State University.
Jessica Unger is the DC Preservation League’s Community Outreach and Grants Manager. She shepherds landmark nominations through the designation process, engages local communities in preservation initiatives, and administers DCPL’s grant programs. Previously, Jessica served as the Emergency Programs Coordinator at the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, where she managed several national programs that aimed to protect cultural heritage during emergencies and disasters. She has also held positions with Heritage Preservation, the State of Rhode Island, and James Monroe’s Highland. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Arts in Public Humanities from Brown University.
Melyssa Laureano is the DC Preservation League’s Programs Manager. She administers the bulk of the organization’s educational programming and serves as staff lead for DCPL’s Education Committee, where she collaborates with committee volunteers to organize educational activities about historic preservation in DC. Melyssa also manages DCPL’s social media presence across a variety of platforms. Previously, Melyssa was DCPL’s 2018-2019 Graduate Fellow. Before her work with DCPL, she worked as a Public Programs Facilitator at the National Museum of American History, where she presented educational programs on the museum floor, and lead tours at President Lincoln’s Cottage as a Museum Program Associate. She holds an M.A. in Public History from American University and B.A.’s in History and Secondary Education from Wilkes University.
Kate Morgan is the DC Preservation League’s 2020-2021 Program Fellow. She will be primarily working on app development–DC Historic Sites. Kate is a fifth-year BA/MA student in American University’s Public History program, having obtained her BA in History from American University in May 2020. In addition to Public History, Kate’s historical interests include 19th through 20th century American culture. Before joining DCPL, she interned at the National Constitution Center, the Library of Congress, and the National Museum of American History. Kate enjoys exploring DC and cannot wait to meet more of her neighbors and community partners through this position.