In the third of a series of pieces exploring the careers of graduates from Kent's MA in Heritage Management offered at our Athens Centre, we talk to Sarah Fanelli to find out about her work as an Assistant Planner for the City of Houston.
What is your current role and what does it involve?
I’m an Assistant Planner with the City of Houston’s Historic Preservation Office, Planning and Development Department.
We assist the public with projects involving modifications or alterations to historic buildings or landmarks, as well as new construction within the City’s 22 Historic Districts and help to make sure their projects are in keeping with the Historic Preservation Ordinance.
We review each application proposal (architectural drawings, site plans, and so on), make a staff recommendation and then present to the Houston Archaeological and Historic Commission who’ll ultimately make the final decision.
What is your favourite aspect of the job?
I love the opportunity to work closely with the public and take their input to heart to make our work more productive and useful. This is ultimately our job: to serve current and future Houstonians.
It’s also a nice feeling to get positive feedback from private citizens who are passionate about preservation. I understand the importance of a need for balance between preservation and progress in modern society, and enjoy coming up with sustainable solutions to these complex issues.
One of the most fun things for me on the job is doing historical research and solving mysteries. It’s always great having that “aha!” moment when I find an old archive document about an architectural element or an old appraisal and am able to piece together a puzzle with those clues.
Why did you choose the Heritage Management MA offered by Kent and AUEB?
This is simultaneously the easiest and most difficult question! After a few years of dabbling in different professions (contemporary arts, translation, and land development) I realized that, simply put: I like old things. I care deeply about their significance and impact on culture. As I was completing my undergraduate studies, minoring in Art History, I found myself increasingly interested in archaeology and architecture, cultural influences on these, and vice versa.
I wanted to do something practical, meaningful, and “hands on.” I have a business background and wanted to put those skills into use, while also continuing more traditional academic theory related to art history and archaeology. When I found the HERMA program, which is a perfect blend of both, I was thrilled. I was already looking for a program abroad – I had lived and worked in Mexico for years and knew I thrive in international environments –the fact that it was in Greece was just the icing on the cake!
I also want to add that I find that Heritage Management fulfills my need for social advocacy which has been important to me since I was very young. We are, after all, activists, in a sense.
Orthodox frescos in a tiny monastery found on a hiking trail in the Vikos Gorge, Zagori Municipality, Epirus, Greece
What skills did you learn and how did this help in your career? How would you say (if you do) you manage heritage in a different way because of your training?
Each day in my job I apply theoretical knowledge gained from the MA in Heritage Management, (e.g. internationally agreed-upon conservation theory and practices—especially in the Managing Heritage Values module) in a practical environment. Because the MA had such an international focus, I feel that my education prepared me to work in niche environments while also still thinking outside of the box, and understanding how conservation and preservation function differently in different countries.
The USA has a very unique model, and funding is wildly different from the rest of the world and the UNESCO-based model. However, in my job as a City Planner, I apply the same qualitative concepts such as evaluating significance and integrity for buildings, which are the same principles used for UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Something significant I learned from the Public Archaeology module was the importance of being flexible and open to different ways preservation can work—for instance, it can be different even just within different areas of town, as the public plays a huge role in deciding the fate of its community. Our work has a true impact on the daily lives of citizens, and a lasting effect on the character and identity of Houston, one of America’s largest cities.
What would you say to anyone considering the course?
This is a conversation best had over a cup of Greek coffee in an Athenian plateia (plaza), but I have nothing but praise for the MA. The opportunity to have Elefsina and some of the ancient world’s most important artifacts and monuments at one’s fingertips throughout the program is sufficient, but on top of that, the professors and collaborative stakeholders are fantastic, and it truly is a unique and family-like experience.
Not to mention the opportunity to travel within Greece for projects—or anywhere in the world—makes it unique. I took full advantage of this opportunity and spent considerable time in various, amazing places for fieldwork. For the Field Study Project a.k.a. dissertation, students are given flexibility in creating their own projects to focus on what’s most important to them.
I’d also say: “Come prepared to work hard!” I won’t lie – it was very challenging, but earning this Master’s was the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done. Ultimately, you get out what you put in.
Ruins Near the fort of Bizani, Ioannina, Epirus, northwestern Greece
What do you think the impact of the Heritage Management Organization (formerly known as the Initiative for Heritage conservation) is on heritage and possibly for your work?
The Heritage Management Organization was and continues to be an extremely supportive source of strength and inspiration for me in my relatively young career in heritage management.
The concept of the Heritage Management Organization is not to only to support the current cohort, but rather to empower and assist HERMA graduates for a very long time. While much of the Heritage Management Organization’s work is in Greece, its concept has been to create a strong global network that supports its mission by drawing on its members’ varied expertise and experiences.
In addition to the HERMA program academics, I also gained a wealth of knowledge and experience by participating in multiple Heritage Management Organization workshops, organizing events, and presenting at the HERMA Conference. It is a comfort to know that, even across the Atlantic, I can reach out at any time for career advice, networking, and support.