Who We Are
Mission
Preserve Rhode Island's mission is to protect and activate historic places for the benefit of all Rhode Islanders.
Board of Trustees
Rebecca J. Bertrand, Co-Chair
Jerry Dauterive, Co-Chair
Ronald Onorato, Co-Chair
Kimberly Smith Barnett
Abigail Campbell-King
David Corsetti
JP Couture
Jeremiah E. de Rham
Theresa Guzman Stokes
Annalisa Heppner
Stephen Lane
Amy Oakley
Brett N. Pelletier
Christopher Ponder
Clark Schoettle
Amy Sonder
John Woolsey
2025 Annual Report
Read about Preserve RI's successful year and learn what's to come in 2026.
Our Staff
Jane Bird
Interim Museum Director
Jane brings a background in community outreach, the arts, and public history to her role as Interim Museum Director at Lippitt House Museum. Her early love of history grew through work as a tour guide, researcher, and historical reenactor at several house museums in her hometown of Concord, Massachusetts. She created and performed educational programs at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, The Wayside, the Concord Museum, The Old Manse, and the Longfellow House in Cambridge. Her museum experience also includes serving as a guide at the Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island and the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City. Jane holds a B.F.A. from New York University.
As Interim Museum Director, Jane leads Lippitt House Museum’s overall operations and public-facing work, guiding programs, educational tours, private events, communications, and community partnerships throughout Providence.
(401) 453-0688
![Mat Photo[45].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bf9af7_747e492a2c81478581f3645c7aae4c1c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_80,w_480,h_480/fill/w_161,h_160,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Mat%20Photo%5B45%5D.jpg)
Mat Hickey
Property Manager
Mat is a New England native who joined Preserve RI in April 2023. With a deep connection to the region, Mat's family settled in Massachusetts in the 1800s; his grandmother even worked as a ladies maid for Blanche Ames at Borderland Estate in Easton, MA. He spent his summers on Block Island, RI, where his family settled in 1805. His grandfather, Rob Lewis, founded the Block Island Conservancy in 1972 and spearheaded the preservation of over 50% of the island as well as the moving of the Southeast Lighthouse. Mat's passion for preservation led him to a career in estate management, where he honed his skills caring for historic properties. Most recently, he managed the last privately-owned Stanford White home in Newport, RI; built in 1882, it is still used as a summer home by the original family today.
(401) 272-5101 ext. 202
Elizabeth Gilbert
Museum Associate
Elizabeth joined Lippitt House Museum in March 2025, bringing with her a lifelong passion for literature, history, and education. Born and raised in California, she has studied, worked, and lived abroad in Germany, England, and the Czech Republic, experiences that have deepened her appreciation for cultural exchange and storytelling. She holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in English and has always been drawn to Victorian literature.
At Lippitt House Museum, Elizabeth enjoys researching the home's history, leading guided tours, writing blogs, letters, and grant reports, and supporting the Lippitt House ELL Civics Program. Outside of the museum, she teaches English to adult immigrants at Dorcas International, where she continues her commitment to education and community engagement. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys exploring Rhode Island and playing the flute.
(401) 453-0688
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Alex Costa
Manager, Communications and Events
Joining Preserve Rhode Island in 2023, Alex is coming in after a year of service with AmeriCorps*VISTA, where he helped URI with their Community Service Work-Study Program, and helped support financial learning for students. He has experience working in different areas, such as sales, service, and higher education. Born in Rhode Island, Alex graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2022 with a B.S. in Health Studies and a B.A. in History. Having always been interested in history and historical places, Alex is excited to work with the team, but is also ready to converge other interests such as equitable housing, accessibility, and urban design in order to ensure that historical preservation can continue on an upward trend of inclusivity.
(401) 272-5101 ext. 205
Bailey Hall
Preservation Programs Manager
From Louisiana, Bailey is joining the Preserve Rhode Island team as the Preservation Programs Manager. She earned a Bachelor's in Cultural Resource Management and Public History from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2018, followed by a Master's degree in History in 2020. For nearly a decade, she has worked alongside preservation professionals in education, advocacy, and historic preservation programs. Most recently, Bailey served as Louisiana's National Register Coordinator where she managed the nomination and documentation of historic properties across the state for nearly four years. She is excited to bring her experience and passion for preservation to Rhode Island and to support the stewardship of the state's historic places.
(401) 272-5101 ext. 206
Zach Russell
Preservation Coordinator
Zach is a 2023 graduate of Salve Regina University with a B.A. in Cultural and Historic Preservation. He is a native of Rhode Island and serves on the board of the Heritage Alliance of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Historic District Commission. His background includes giving tours at Belcourt, a historic house museum in Newport RI, and working for Island Cemetery in Newport. At Island Cemetery, he assisted with the digitization of cemetery records and mapping project, while also assisting with programs and tours for the cemetery. Zach also served on the restoration committee overseeing the restoration of the Belmont Chapel completed in the fall of 2024, a Rhody Awardee.
Currently, Zach is restoring his family’s house in Pawtucket — completing much of the restoration himself. Zach has always had a passion for history and preservation, advocating for threatened historic places and hands on restoration work.
(401) 272-5101 ext. 204
Job Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering, please email either staff@preserveri.org or lippitthouse@preserveri.org with your resume and interests.
History
Preserve Rhode Island was founded in 1956 under state charter to "preserve the beautiful historic buildings, places and things in Rhode Island." Properties such as Lippitt House Museum, Jeremiah Dexter House, Philip Walker House, and Hannah Robinson's Rock were donated, accepted for stewardship, and have been guided into responsible management - whether under our direct care or through affiliated organizations.
In 1999, the organization adopted its current name (previously the Heritage Foundation of Rhode Island and then the Heritage Trust of Rhode Island), marking the expansion of its role from steward to statewide preservation advocate. Preserve RI began responding to local issues in communities that grappled with sprawl, lack of resources, community revitalization, maintaining community and character, and more.
Preserve RI is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization directed by a volunteer Board of Trustees dedicated to protecting the historic and unique places that define Rhode Island. Our small professional staff work with a philosophy of team work amongst ourselves and collaborate with other organizations and individuals, all to preserve Rhode Island as a place where love to live, work, and play.