Staff

Katherine Davis Wheeler (she/they) is a nonprofit leader, public historian, and historic
preservation professional with over 18 years of experience working at the intersection of
organizational strategy, community engagement, and cultural stewardship.

Her work centers on preservation and adaptive reuse, with a particular focus on the history and
evolution of the preservation movement in the United States. Drawing on both academic and
technical experience, she approaches preservation as a people-centered, equity-driven
field—one that connects policy and advocacy with storytelling, community engagement, and
neighborhood-based action.

Over the course of her career, Katherine has supported arts, history, and culture-focused
organizations through periods of growth and transformation. She has held executive leadership
roles and consulted for museums, historic sites, and nonprofits. Her work spans executive
coaching, strategic planning, interim management, operational alignment, fundraising strategy,
and advising organizations on DEIA practices grounded in accountability and structural change.

She holds an undergraduate degree in art history, a master’s in architecture and design with a
focus on historic preservation and adaptive reuse, and a graduate certificate in public history
and museum studies from the University of Massachusetts. Katherine has served in volunteer
and advisory roles with numerous civic and preservation-focused organizations, including the
Amherst Historical Commission, Amherst Design Review Board, Downtown Waltham
Partnership, Preservation Massachusetts, and the Northampton Arts Council.

Matthew Dickey is an artist, cyclist, and dedicated urbanist based in Boston. As the Deputy Director for the Boston Preservation Alliance, Matthew is pivotal in highlighting and celebrating Boston’s unique architectural heritage. His Instagram presence as StreetscapeCurator highlights the intricate details and hidden stories of Boston’s streets, fostering a deeper appreciation for the city’s rich architectural tapestry. As Deputy Director, Matthew aims to elevate and amplify the stories that make Boston, Boston.

Matthew was previously a Young Advisor for the Alliance. In 2018, he was selected to travel with the National Trust for Historic Preservation along Route 66 as part of the Preserve Route 66 campaign. He is an official Accidentally Wes Anderson Ambassador and a regular contributor with curious adventures such as the Coastal Postal Road Trip. 

Through his role at the Boston Preservation Alliance and his dynamic online presence, Matthew continues to inspire and educate, making a lasting impact on the way we view and value our urban streetscapes. He holds a Master’s in Arts Administration from Boston University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the Shirley-Eustis House Museum and on the Board of Directors for the Dorchester Historical Society. His paintings and photographs have been displayed around the world and he makes regular appearances on the TV series, Meet Boston with Billy and Jenny. 

A New Englander, Molly Donahue is excited to join the Boston Preservation Alliance as Director of Advocacy. She most recently worked at the New York State Historic Preservation Office as an Historic Site Restoration Coordinator, focusing on tax credits for historic homeowners and state and federal grants. Outside of the office, Molly was a member of the Troy, NY Historic Review Committee and previously the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland’s Planning Cases Panel, where she sought to balance community development and preservation needs. She brings her technical skills and extensive experience working with the public to the Alliance, where she looks forward to engaging with the community and policy-makers to ensure preservation is at the forefront of conversations about what makes Boston thrive.

 
Prior to working in historic preservation, Molly had a career in communications and audio production at organizations including the UN Global Compact, Gimlet Media, and New Hampshire Public Radio. She holds a Master of Science in Architectural Conservation from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Barnard College. Molly believes everyone deserves to see their culture and history represented equitably in our built environment and that strong preservation practices benefit communities as a whole.

Alejandra Baltazar joined in 2023 as the Alliance’s Virtual Assistant, based in Mexico, via Wing Assistant. Among her many roles, Alejandra provides comprehensive administrative support, database management, reporting, scheduling, and research. She graduated from Hispanic Language and Literature at the Universidad Veracruzana. Passionate about language, she facilitates Reading and Writing classes, alongside personal projects exploring Mayan Cosmogony, Astrology, and Human Design Workshops. Fluent in Spanish and English, she is dedicated to deciphering language and its diverse expressions in both professional and personal endeavors.

Kenia Benitez Sanchez is an undergraduate student at Wellesley College majoring in Architecture with an interest in Environmental Studies. She is passionate about using architecture as a tool for advocacy, education, and community empowerment.

At Wellesley, she is an active member of the Architecture and Design Club and has deepened her academic experience through interdisciplinary coursework. This spring semester, she studied abroad in Athens, Greece, where she explored the cultural and historical significance of preservation and global heritage.

Her interests within architecture include preservation, interior design, landscape architecture, and sustainability. She is committed to advocating for equitable and inclusive design, and values community education in order to create meaningful change.

This summer, Kenia is excited to step into the role of Digital Marketing Intern, where she will focus on amplifying stories of preservation and advocacy in the Boston area. Through research, storytelling, and community outreach, she hopes to inspire greater awareness of the region’s architectural heritage and promote the importance of preserving our built environment for future generations.