Preservation New Jersey Announces Michele Racioppi as New Executive Director

Preservation New Jersey (PNJ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Michele Racioppi as its new Executive Director, marking an exciting new chapter for organization. With extensive experience in historic preservation, nonprofit leadership, and public programming, Michele brings a deep understanding of New Jersey’s historic resources and a strong record of building programs, partnerships, and public engagement.

Michele’s connection to New Jersey’s preservation community is longstanding. She spent six years with the New Jersey Historic Trust, serving as both Program Assistant and Historic Preservation Specialist. During her tenure, she administered preservation grants, worked directly with municipalities and non-profit organizations, oversaw preservation projects, and helped organize the annual New Jersey History & Historic Preservation Conference. This experience provided her with firsthand knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing historic resources and the people working to protect them throughout the state.

Most recently, Michele serves as Program Director at Docomomo US, a non-profit organization dedicated to documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the Modern Movement. Over seven years with the organization, she has advanced from Program and Communications Manager to Program Director, leading national programs, conferences, awards, tours, communications, and partnerships. Among her accomplishments was helping organize the International Docomomo Conference in Los Angeles, which welcomed more than 500 participants representing 45 countries. Her experience in organizational development, membership growth, communications, and advocacy will bring valuable leadership to PNJ.

Michele brings an exceptional combination of New Jersey preservation experience, national perspective, and a genuine understanding of what it takes to build a successful preservation organization.” James Giresi, President of Preservation New Jersey.

Under Michele’s leadership, Preservation New Jersey will continue to strengthen its longstanding commitment to advocacy while expanding its capacity to engage communities, protect threatened historic resources, and demonstrate the importance of preservation throughout the state. The organization is preparing to introduce several new initiatives and programs designed to give preservation advocates, property owners, municipalities, and communities additional tools and opportunities to protect New Jersey’s historic places. These efforts will build upon PNJ’s established advocacy mission, recognizing that effective preservation requires not only raising awareness of threats, but also creating meaningful pathways to action and long-term protection.

The appointment also marks an opportunity to recognize the significant contributions of outgoing Executive Director Kelly C. Ruffel, whose dedicated leadership has helped position PNJ for continued growth. During her tenure, Kelly strengthened the organization’s internal operations, established new processes, greatly expanded programming, and broadened the organization’s outreach and visibility and reach throughout the state. Her commitment helped build a stronger organizational foundation, allowing PNJ to increase its engagement with preservation partners, supporters, and communities while taking on new opportunities to advance its mission.

Kelly has given an extraordinary amount of time, energy, and dedication to Preservation New Jersey. Her work has made a lasting difference in the organization. Kelly helped move PNJ forward at an important time in its history. We are grateful for her leadership, her commitment to historic preservation, and the foundation she leaves for the organization.

As Preservation New Jersey looks ahead, the organization remains firmly grounded in its mission to advocate for the protection of New Jersey’s historic and cultural resources. With renewed organizational capacity, an expanding team, and new initiatives on the horizon, PNJ is poised to build on its accomplishments and strengthen its role as a leading voice for historic preservation across the state.