People You Should Know: Alexander Nance

Alexander Nance: Executive Director, Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association

Alexander is the Executive Director of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association (VPHA) having been appointed in January 2022. As Executive Director, he is the chief operating officer and is responsible for the active management of the Association’s daily business, development, fundraising, membership, and preserving the integrity of the historic landscape of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area.

He brings a somewhat unique background to the position, not as an historian or professional preservationist but as an engineering officer in the US Army.  He was stationed in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Jordan. After completing his tour of duty, he worked as a civilian employee of the Army as a military analyst for five years.

Alexander is a lifelong resident of Northern Virginia, having lived in Alexandria and McLean before he and his wife Jane Latham moved to an old farmhouse on 7 acres outside of Middleburg. They are lovingly restoring the farmhouse and starting a small apple orchard featuring heritage apples.

For as long as he can remember Alexander has had an intense interest in history, particularly Virginia history. When the Executive Director position at VPHA opened he decided it might be a a great opportunity to change careers and follow his passion.

Alexander has a BS in International Politics from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia.

The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission to educate and advocate for the preservation of the extraordinary historical landscape and culture of the Northern Virginia Piedmont and Lower Shenandoah Valley for future generations.

VPHA and seven other local conservation groups have come together to produce a Rural Landowner Manual: A Resource Guide for the Northern Piedmont. The publication includes a list of experts, programs, and opportunities to assist landowners, as well as advice for how to navigate the complexities of rural property stewardship.

Over the next several years VPHA will continue to expand its education program which features In-Person or Virtual Classroom Presentations. Last year the program reached 5,000 students. The program is available for free to all public schools, private schools, catholic schools, and home schools.

Each free classroom presentation includes:

• A professionally trained public historian with classroom experience;
• Free scavenger hunts for each student;
• Primary sources and fascinating stories.

The classroom presentations are specifically tailored to elementary school, middle school, and high school.

The education program is run by Travis Shaw who brings over two decades of experience in the fields of historic preservation, archaeology, and museum education.

The VPHA is actively involved in developing public policy to preserve the historical landscape and culture of the Northern Virginia Piedmont and Lower Shenandoah Valley. VPHA has joined the Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains and many other Loudoun County based organizations in signing the declaration prepared by the Loudoun Transmission Line Alliance (LTLA) expressing concern about the proposed 500KV transmission line through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The VPHA is in the process of preparing an Impact Statement outlining the serious impacts the proposed line will have on the area’s historic landscape.