Interview with Kaity Ryan

Kaity Ryan recently succeeded Ruth Taylor as Commission Chair. A certified architectural historian with a master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Kaity was appointed by the Governor of Rhode Island to the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission in 2025. In the field, Ryan advances both preservation and conservation in Middletown where she has served as Executive Director at the Norman Bird Sanctuary since 2019.

1. Congratulations on your new role as Commission Chair of the RIHPHC, the state agency that oversees historic preservation efforts and policies. What do you see as the biggest priorities the Commission faces?

Thank you. The Commission is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of Rhode Island…and what a privilege and honor to do that here. Rhode Island is richly diverse, and it offers so much for those who live, work, and visit. Now more than ever, I see an increased need for collaboration between the public and private sectors, along with thoughtful community development that retains the unique identity of our state. We continue to face increased development pressure, housing demands, a changing environment, and economic insecurity. The Commission’s work is at the intersection of these issues and this work requires not only significant resources but also strategic investments to meet the scale and magnitude needed to move our state forward.

2. As you know, Preserve RI, along with GrowSmart RI, have been pushing state leaders to fix the State Historic Tax Credit program--an important generator of crucially needed housing. Where does the RIHPHC stand on this issue, and what role do you see the Commission playing in helping find a solution?

As Chair of the RIHPHC, I help lead a group of extremely skilled fellow commissioners and a highly talented staff team to advance preservation throughout Rhode Island using the tools we have at our disposal. The State Historic Tax Credit program is one such resource. The Commission supports the program and has for many years. Additional funding, support for projects that are currently on hold, and wider legislative support is critical to make this program more successful.

3. The State Preservation Grant program has provided funding for historic structures open to the public. The program has run out of funding. Will the Commission encourage the governor to add funding to next year's budget?

Yes. Historically, we have encouraged the governor to include support for this important program in the state budget. We will continue to do so.

4. How did you become interested in historic preservation?

I grew up in an area (outside Princeton, New Jersey) with incredible cultural and architectural history and have always loved the sense of place it evokes. For me, design – whether its buildings, landscapes, interiors, or furniture – influences so much of how we feel and see the world. Through living in different cities and countries, I began to really appreciate the importance of preservation, especially in an increasingly globalized world. That Gertrude Stein (and later Denise Scott Brown/Robert Venturi) aphorism about "There's no there there" resonates more and more.

5. As Executive Director of the Norman Bird Sanctuary, you are responsible for several historic buildings on the property. How do the historic buildings enhance visitors' experience?

The core of our campus – which houses all of our administrative functions and the majority of our buildings – is the jumping off point for everyone who visits the Norman Bird Sanctuary. So, whether you’re coming for a hike, a bird walk, Summer Camp, a yoga class, or Harvest Fair, you see and use our buildings. They are the point of entry and shape the experience. Most people who come to the Sanctuary feel a sense of calm and peace. That is largely because of the natural setting, of course: 300 acres of beautiful, forested open space, and fields set against the ocean will do that! But the historic buildings play a big role. They help tell the story of the property’s evolution as it developed through agricultural use and, ultimately, into the wildlife sanctuary it is today. Preserve RI has been a great partner in helping us preserve the cultural heritage of the site through stone wall restoration and that certainly influences the experience of the property and contributes to the broader community.