Boston Preservation Alliance and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine Davis Wheeler to the position of Executive Director. Katherine Davis Wheeler (she/they) is a nonprofit leader, public historian, and historic preservation professional with over 18 years of experience working at the intersection of organizational strategy, community engagement, and cultural stewardship.
Her work centers on preservation and adaptive reuse, with a particular focus on the history and evolution of the preservation movement in the United States. Drawing on both academic and technical experience, she approaches preservation as a people-centered, equity-driven field—one that connects policy and advocacy with storytelling, community engagement, and neighborhood-based action.
Katherine joined the Boston Preservation Alliance as Executive Director on August 4, 2025. In this role, she champions the organization’s mission, leads staff and programs, and stewards its fiscal health. Collaborating with the Board of Directors and its committees, she manages day-to-day operations and serves as the Alliance’s principal spokesperson. Highly visible in the community, Katherine builds relationships across sectors to advance the Alliance’s advocacy and education work.
Over the course of her career, Katherine has supported arts, history, and culture-focused organizations through periods of growth and transformation. She has held executive leadership roles and consulted with museums, historic sites, and nonprofits. Her work spans executive coaching, strategic planning, interim management, operational alignment, fundraising strategy, and advising organizations on DEIA practices grounded in accountability and structural change.
She holds an undergraduate degree in art history, a master’s in architecture and design with a focus on historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and a graduate certificate in public history and museum studies from the University of Massachusetts. Katherine has served in volunteer and advisory roles with numerous civic and preservation-focused organizations, including the Amherst Historical Commission, Amherst Design Review Board, Downtown Waltham Partnership, Preservation Massachusetts, and the Northampton Arts Council.
About Boston Preservation Alliance: The Boston Preservation Alliance (The Alliance) is an independent, nonprofit organization that exists to advocate for and empower Bostonians to play an active role in preserving the places and stories that are important to Boston’s history. They envision Boston as a place where the stories of its diverse residents and cultures are reflected in its evolving built environment. Through advocacy and education, they guide thoughtful change that simultaneously stewards the historic character that defines the city. Learn more at www.bostonpreservation.org.
About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and the boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information about Pillar, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.
