Preservation New Jersey (PNJ), the state’s leading statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Craft as Program Coordinator and Thomas – Boccino, PP, LLA, as Administrative & Outreach Coordinator. The addition of two new part-time positions marks an important investment in PNJ’s organizational capacity and reflects the organization’s continued growth and commitment to serving preservationists, communities, and advocates throughout New Jersey.
Founded in 1978, PNJ works to protect and promote New Jersey’s historic places through advocacy, education, public awareness, technical assistance, and partnerships with communities, preservation organizations, and public agencies. As the need for preservation education, advocacy, and community support continues to grow, the expanded staff will enable PNJ to strengthen its existing programs while developing new opportunities to connect people and organizations across the state.
Rachel Craft will serve as PNJ’s Program Coordinator, focusing on educational programming and public engagement. She will help plan and coordinate a wide range of virtual, hybrid, and in-person programs, including workshops, panel discussions, advocacy events, networking opportunities, preservation training, and community outreach. Her work will help PNJ expand programming geographically and connect with historic preservation commissions, schools, professionals, community advocates, and members of the public.
Ms. Craft brings a background that combines public history, architectural history, research, interpretation, and education. She holds a BA in History from Rowan University and an MA in Public History from Rutgers University–Camden. Her previous positions include Architectural Historian/Historian with Hunter Research, Inc.; Interim Co-Coordinator of the Continuing Education in Historic Preservation program at Rutgers University-Camden’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities; and Site Manager for Red Bank Battlefield and Whitall House.
Ms. Craft was drawn to preservation because it brings together her interests in the built environment, historical research and writing, public history, and collaborative problem-solving. She sees preservation as both a means of protecting significant places and a way of building stronger connections among the people and communities that care for them.
“I’m excited to continue PNJ’s staple programs, including the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, while finding new ways to showcase preservation efforts throughout the state,” said Craft. “I hope to create engaging programs that bring together preservationists from as many communities, career paths, and professional stages as possible and provide participants with tools they can take back to their own communities.”
Thomas Boccino, PP, LLA joins PNJ as Administrative & Outreach Coordinator, bringing more than 27 years of experience working in historic preservation, planning, landscape architecture, open space, and grant management. His role will strengthen PNJ’s administrative operations while supporting membership, communications, and outreach to historic preservation commissions, municipalities, schools, community organizations, and preservation partners statewide.
Mr. Boccino began his preservation career in 1998 with the Somerset County Park Commission, where he was responsible for planning, design, open space acquisition, and historic preservation efforts. He subsequently joined the Somerset County Planning Division, where he managed the County’s Preservation Section, overseeing Open Space, Farmland, and Historic Preservation. His work required close coordination among county staff, other government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Boccino helped advance a broad range of preservation and conservation initiatives. His accomplishments include managing the preparation of Historic Structures Reports for several historic structures within the Somerset County Park System; conducting an archaeological survey of the Waynes Brigade Encampment at Washington Valley Park in Bridgewater Township; facilitating the acquisition of the Boudinot Southard Farmstead in Bernards Township and the Old Stone Arch Bridge in Bound Brook Borough; working with Somerset County’s Cultural and Heritage Commission to develop Somerset County’s Five-Point Plan for the Semiquincentennial; and initiating the archaeological excavation at Lord Stirling Manor in Bernards Township.
Mr. Boccino’s experience also extends to major open-space initiatives, including the acquisitions of land for the development of Neshanic Valley Golf Course, Natirar Park, Skillman Park, Mountain View Park, and Hillsborough Country Club, all of which involved an element of historic preservation. After retiring from Somerset County in December 2025, he sought an opportunity to continue contributing to the preservation of New Jersey’s historic and cultural resources and joined PNJ.
“Rachel and Tom bring two very different, but highly complementary skill sets to Preservation New Jersey. Rachel’s background in public history and programming will help us create new opportunities for learning, conversation, and engagement, while Tom brings decades of practical experience working across communities, other non-profits and various government organizations. Together, they significantly expand what PNJ can accomplish.” – Board President James Giresi
The new positions also reflect PNJ’s broader effort to make the organization more accessible and responsive to communities across the state. With dedicated staff supporting both programming and outreach, PNJ will be better positioned to maintain relationships with its members and partners, respond to constituent needs, develop new educational opportunities, and bring preservation conversations to communities throughout New Jersey.
The expanded staff will complement the work of PNJ’s Board of Trustees, volunteers, committees, and longstanding partners. By combining professional expertise with broader public engagement, PNJ aims to strengthen the network of individuals and organizations working to preserve New Jersey’s diverse historic resources.
With the addition of Ms. Craft and Mr. Boccino, Preservation New Jersey enters its next chapter with an expanded capacity to educate, advocate, connect, and support the people and communities working to preserve New Jersey’s historic places.
