DHPA Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Mailing Address:

402 W. Washington Street, Room W274
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Office: 317-232-1646
Fax: 317-232-0693

• For general questions: DHPA@dnr.IN.gov
• For corrections to SHAARD: SHAARDAdmin@dnr.IN.gov
• For environmental review submissions: DHPAReview@dnr.IN.gov
• For tax credit questions and submittals: DHPAtaxcredits@dnr.IN.gov
• For public outreach questions: DHPAConnect@dnr.IN.gov

Division Director

Beth McCord, Director and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, has worked in cultural and heritage management for more than 25 years. She received her M.A. in Anthropology from Ball State University. During her career, she has worked with clients in the government, engineering, transportation, and energy sectors. McCord has also worked on several state and federal grant projects, authored published articles and technical reports, and presented her research to a variety of audiences.

Preservation Services

Paul C. Diebold, Assistant Director of Preservation Services, Team Leader of Survey and Registration, has been with the division since 1988. He graduated with a B.A. in Art History from the Herron School of Art and Design, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Ball State University. Paul specializes in early 20th century domestic architecture and is a former adjunct faculty member in the Historic Preservation program at Ball State University where he taught Introduction to Historic Preservation.

Jamie Reeder, Preservation Specialist, graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in Public History and an M.A. in History. His course work focused on 19th and 20th century urban history. He first joined the DHPA as a Field Surveyor in 2023, then transitioned to a Preservation Specialist in 2024.

Holly A. Tate, Architectural Historian, has been with the division since 2007. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, she graduated with a B.A. in history from Huntingdon College (Montgomery, Alabama) and completed graduate coursework in the Master of Historic Preservation program at the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia). She worked at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Division in the Survey and Register Unit from 1999 to 2006.

Amy D. Ward,  Preservation Specialist. Amy received her B.A. from Indiana University in 2007 with High Honors. Her graduate coursework in Public History at Northern Kentucky University focused on material culture and Underground Railroad studies. She has also worked doing archaeological fieldwork in Indiana, Kentucky, and surrounding states.

Environmental Reviews

Chad Slider, Assistant Director for Environmental Review, has been with the division since 2007. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI) and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Ball State University. He has also served on numerous boards, including the Mattawan (MI) Downtown Development Authority and the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission. Before relocating to Indiana, Chad owned a furniture upholstery and restoration business for 12 years and also restored windows.

Archaeology

Cathy L. Draeger-Williams, Archaeologist, has been with the division since 2003. She graduated with an A.A. from Vincennes University, a B.A. in History and Anthropology from Ball State University, and an M.A. in Anthropology from Ball State University.

Amy L. Johnson, State Archaeologist, Archaeology Outreach Coordinator, and Team Leader for Archaeology, has been with the division since 1991. She graduated with a B.S. and an M.A., both in Anthropology, from Ball State University. She began her new role as State Archaeologist in June 2015. Amy's main research interests are prehistoric archaeology (specifically the Adena and Hopewell periods), historic cemeteries, and public education regarding archaeological resources and cultural resources laws. Amy is Indiana’s state network coordinator for the Public Education Committee of the Society for American Archaeology.

Melody Pope, Archaeologist, has worked in historic preservation and heritage management for more than 30 years. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Binghamton University (SUNY). Throughout her career, she has collaborated on numerous research, historic preservation, and heritage projects.

Wade T. Tharp, Archaeologist, has been with the division since 2010. He graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Arts (Anthropology major, Classical Studies minor) from Indiana University (Indianapolis), and graduated with an M.A. in Historical Archaeology from Illinois State University (Normal). His research interests include critical theory in historical archaeology, the archaeology of internal colonization, and French vernacular architecture.

Structures Review

Miriam L. Burkett, Environmental Review & Special Projects Assistant, has been with the division since 2004. She graduated with a B.A. in History from Cardinal Stritch University (Milwaukee, WI) and also completed graduate coursework in Public History at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis and in Historic Preservation at Ball State University.

Toni Lynn Giffin, Lead Regulatory Reviewer and Team Lead for Historic Structures, has been in her current role with the division since October 2022. She has a B.A. in Comparative History and an M.A. in Museum Studies – Collection Care and Management through Indiana University – IUPUI campus. Previously, Toni worked for the division from 2010-2012. She has more than 17 years of experience in Historic Research/Historic Preservation/Museums and over 15 years in various state roles and consulting firms specializing in the National Environmental Policy Act.

Caitlin M. Lehman, Historic Structures Reviewer, has been with the division since 2021. She graduated with a B.S. in Architecture from Kent State University (Kent, Ohio) and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Ball State University.

Kim Marie Padgett, Historic Structures Reviewer, has been with the division since 2010. She graduated with a B.A. in Art History from Purdue University and completed graduate coursework in Historic Preservation at Ball State University.

Administration, Financial Incentives and Planning

Steven D. Kennedy, Assistant Director of Administration, Financial Incentives and Planning has been with the division since 1996. Steve is a native of California and graduated with an undergraduate degree in History of Art from the University of California at Riverside and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Ball State University. In addition to oversight of the Division's grant programs, he also serves as the State Coordinator of the Certified Local Government (CLG) program.

Ashley D. Thomas, Tax Credit Administrator, has been with the division since 2009. She graduated with a B.S. in Architecture and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from Ball State University.

Malia D. Vanaman, Associate Grants Manager, has been with the division since 2000. She graduated with a B.A. in U.S. History from Boston University and an M.A. in Public History from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Engagement, Outreach & SHAARD Administration

Danielle Kauffmann, Director of Engagement, has been with the division since 2018. She graduated with a B.A. in History and French from Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) and an M.S. in Historic Preservation from the University of Vermont (Burlington). Before coming to work for the State, Danielle worked for a cultural resources and heritage management firm for 4.5 years.