Dr. Leslee Keys joins international preservation board

Flagler College has joined the international arena of historic preservation. Dr. Leslee F. Keys, the college’s assistant professor of History and director of Historic Preservation and Special Initiatives, has been elected to the 21-member Board of Trustees for the United States chapter of the International Commission on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS).  She is the member representing Florida, and one of four newly-elected trustees.
Founded in 1965, US/ICOMOS is the single professional preservation organization in the U.S. with an international emphasis, fostering heritage conservation and historic preservation at the worldwide level. The organization promotes strong ties between national, regional, private and governmental organizations within the U.S. and the international preservation community.
“I am honored to be elected to the Board of Trustees,” Keys said. “This opportunity provides an opportunity to promote the heritage of Flagler College and St. Augustine. More importantly, Flagler is building its international programs, and a relationship with US/ICOMOS and this network of professionals can foster opportunities to inspire the next generation of scholars to serve as stewards for international cultural resources.”
Keys has been an employee of the college since 2005, after serving as an adjunct faculty member for three years.  Before joining the Department of Humanities faculty in 2012, she served as the director of corporate, foundation and government relations in the Office of Institutional Advancement. She has been involved in historic preservation in Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida and has served as guest faculty for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and UF’s Preservation Institute: Nantucket. Keys is the author/editor of five books on history and preservation.