UNM Chief Economic Development Officer John A. Garcia has been appointed by President George W. Bush to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an independent federal agency that promotes the preservation, enhancement and productive use of our nation’s historic resources, and advises the President and Congress on national historic preservation policy.
Mayor Thomas R. Miller of Franklin Tennessee was also appointed, and Julia A. King of St. Mary’s City, Maryland and Ann A. Pritzlaff of Denver, Colorado were reappointed.
Garcia is a former secretary of the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and the New Mexico Economic Development Department. He also served as New Mexico’s Senior Officer of Cultural Affairs and has experience on a statewide level in developing cultural tourism opportunities.
In addition to his work for UNM, he also consults for Grubbs & Ellis NM and oversees his management company, Hospitotally.
Garcia will fill one of the general public positions on the 23-member council. His term runs through 2011.
The goal the of National Historic Preservation Act, which established the ACHP in 1966, is to have federal agencies act as responsible stewards of our nation’s resources when their actions affect historic properties.
Media Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627; e-mail: kwent2@unm.edu