FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 24, 2002
CONTACT: Summer Wilhelm
summer.wilhelm@emich.edu
734.487.4400

EMU’s McLennan Receives Top Honors in Historic Preservation

YPSILANTI — Eastern Michigan University’s Marshall McLennan was recently honored for his contribution to preservation education. McLennan, professor emeritus of geography and former director of EMU’s graduate program in historic preservation, was presented with the James Marston Fitch Preservation Education Lifetime Achievement Award Oct. 11.

The Fitch Award, given by the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), honors the memory of Jim Fitch, who made legendary contributions to preservation education. The award also recognizes members of NCPE who have made notable contributions to the preservation education field.

“This is the highest award you can get in preservation education,” said Ted Ligibel, EMU professor of cultural geography and historic preservation. “There is no one more deserving.”

McLennan, of Ann Arbor, established EMU’s preservation program in 1979 and it has become one of the largest graduate programs in preservation in the country.

During his stewardship, EMU won several city and state of Michigan awards and the program was honored by the American Association of State and Local History. Many of the program’s graduates are employed throughout the country and serve on numerous local and state boards.

A graduate of San Francisco State University, McLennan earned his doctorate in geography from the University of California, Berkely, in 1973.

McLennan served on the Michigan State National Register Review Board for 10 years; was one of the initial directors of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network; and was on the directors’ board of the Automobile National Heritage Area.

He currently serves on the board of the Pioneer America Society, an organization that studies vernacular architecture and material culture, and is working with scholars at the Michigan State
University Museum to create a Michigan Agricultural Heritage context report.

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