Faculty and Alums work recognized by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation

June 23, 2026

BY rawad nahhas

Each year, the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation honors individuals, organizations, and businesses for their impactful efforts to save historic places, build pride, and foster engagement in their communities. Awardees have been nominated and selected based on the significance and magnitude of the nominee’s contributions and/or achievements, consistent or innovative involvement with and commitment to culture, and benefit of the nominee’s contributions to Louisiana’s cultural understanding.

HEATHER VENEZIANO

Education Award

Recognizes an individual or organization that, through educational efforts, helped broaden appreciation for the importance of historic preservation in Louisiana.

As Professor of Practice and Director of Historic Preservation at Tulane University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, Heather inspires students through hands-on learning, meaningful mentorship, and community-centered preservation projects. Her scholarship and outreach, centered on the rich history, culture, and built environment of New Orleans and the Gulf South, have advanced the study of cultural heritage sites, masonry conservation, digital documentation, and cemetery preservation. By empowering students to lead real-world projects, including the creation of LTHP’s Louisiana Register of Historic Cemeteries, Heather has cultivated a new generation of preservation leaders committed to protecting Louisiana’s history and strengthening its communities.

ALLYSON HINZ

Sue Turner Preservationist of the Year Award

Recognizes the efforts of an individual that made a significant contribution to historic preservation in Louisiana.

While enrolled in Tulane University’s Masters in Historic Preservation program, Allyson volunteered with the nonprofit, Restore Grand Isle, and worked with Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office staff to develop a comprehensive nomination of the historic Oleander Hotel to the National Register of Historic Places. In April 2025, the nomination was approved by the state review committee, and in July 2025, the Oleander Hotel was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places, making it eligible for historic tax credits and opening the door for future rehabilitation efforts and long-term preservation. After graduating, Allyson joined the New Orleans-based architecture firm, CICADA, where she plays a central role in developing an island-wide preservation plan for Grand Isle to support future research, resilience planning, and preservation advocacy.

KARINA ROCA

Living Trades Award

Recognizes individuals that have continued to use a traditional technique or method in construction, considered both artistic in nature & rare in today’s construction practices, to achieve authenticity in the preservation, restoration, or reconstruction of historic resources in Louisiana.

Karina Roca is a blacksmith apprentice in New Orleans under the tutelage of legendary iron outfitter and master blacksmith, Darryl Reeves, working to preserve the historic trade that defines the city’s architectural integrity, both structurally and aesthetically. In 2025, she completed a summer internship at Colonial Williamsburg’s Blacksmith shop where she participated in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, demonstrating traditional forge welding. An advocate for the cultural history of the city’s built environment, Karina earned her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Tulane University in the Spring of 2026 and now serves as Preservation Resource Center’s Program Manager for Bridge to Crafts Careers, passing along traditional trades skills to the next generation of preservationists.