Cristiana Peña

In service of many of New York’s most iconic historical and cultural landmarks, Cristiana has mounted campaigns involving community stakeholders, elected officials, cultural influencers, members of the press corps, and the public at-large. As a preservationist and community liaison for the Upper West Side-based LANDMARK WEST!, she successfully organized community action in response to threats to designated landmark sites. With the Woodlawn Conservancy, Cristiana leveraged her talents in cultural site management and new media to build a robust network of constituents, all dedicated to preserving and interpreting the historic Woodlawn Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark. Cristiana has taught at Drew University, in New Jersey, as adjunct professor in the course “Preservation + Technology,” and regularly serves as guest lecturer and critic in Columbia University’s Master’s program in Historic Preservation, of which she is a graduate. She is a past president of Preservation Alumni, Inc., the network of graduates of Columbia University’s Historic Preservation program. Prior to Columbia, Cristiana received her BA in Art History, with a minor in Architectural History, from Pennsylvania State University.