18 Jun 2025 Historic Boston Inc. appoints Dr. Rebecca F. Kemper as Executive Director
Media Release – For Immediate Use
June 18, 2025
Historic Boston Inc. appoints Dr. Rebecca F. Kemper as Executive Director
Boston, Massachusetts – Historic Boston Incorporated (HBI), announced today that it has appointed Dr. Rebecca F. Kemper as its next Executive Director.
Dr. Kemper, a Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 awardee, has over a decade of nonprofit leadership experience and holds a doctorate from Ohio State University’s Knowlton School. She is a dedicated community builder and preservationist from the Midwest, most recently serving as the Chief Executive Officer for Columbus Landmarks, a nonprofit organization that advocates for historic preservation and design excellence throughout greater Columbus, Ohio. Her research and professional practice concerns historic preservation, place-based identity, and its relationship to vibrant built environments for all.
Kemper states: “HBI is at an important intersection to the city of Boston in fostering preservation, equity, and accessibility for our city. Through preservation we help communities share their histories, cultural heritages, and architectural legacies not only to each other, but to all visitors of our city. Working alongside our notable board, staff, and partners to actualize Boston preservation is a true honor.
HBI’s Board President Mike Durand stated “We are thrilled to have Dr. Rebecca Kemper leading Historic Boston’s next chapter and we look forward to working with her to advance HBI’s mission throughout the city and a renewed vision for the historic Old Corner Bookstore in Downtown Crossing.”
Dr. Kemper will build on a multi-decade legacy at Historic Boston, the historic preservation organization, first established in 1960, with over four decades of experience rehabilitating at-risk historic buildings and properties across the City of Boston. HBI most recently rehabilitated the 1912 Upham’s Corner Comfort Station into a restaurant for the acclaimed Comfort Kitchen in Dorchester.
At the close of 2024, HBI’s longtime Executive Director Kathy Kottaridis departed after her 17-year-stewardship of the organization to become Director of the City of Boston’s Office of Historic Preservation.
ABOUT HISTORIC BOSTON INC.
HBI is a non-profit historic preservation and real estate organization that rehabilitates at-risk historic and culturally significant properties in Boston’s neighborhoods so they are a usable part of the city’s present and future. Please visit HBI at www.historicboston.org.
ABOUT DR. REBECCA KEMPER
Dr. Rebecca F. Kemper (she / ella) was the first Hispanic leader of Columbus Landmarks. Her expertise and research has been featured on National Public Radio, The Royal Society, Carolina Planning Journal, Technological Horizons in Education, The Routledge Handbook of International Planning Education, WOSU, and the Journal of Urban Affairs. Dr. Kemper’s leadership within architecture, education, and nonprofits has been recognized with the Columbus Business First 40 under 40 recognition, Education 2.0: Outstanding Leadership in Education Award, The Ohio State University’s Hidden Figures: Women in Science. Prior to being the CEO of Columbus Landmarks, she served as a researcher at the Center for Research and Evaluation at COSI Science Museum (#1 Science Museum, USA Today Rankings). At Ohio State University, Dr. Kemper has also served as a visiting lecturer for the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. Dr. Kemper is a life-long learner, with degrees and professional certificates from The Ohio State University & Spelman College.
For more information, please contact:
Stacy Thompson, Historic Boston’s Interim Executive Director
617-442-1859