A seasoned nonprofit executive, Nathan Lott currently serves as Finance and Development Director for the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon, Georgia. Prior to that, he served Historic Macon Foundation, where he modernized the organization’s financial system and up-skilled staff to reestablish the organization’s capacity to rehabilitate historic houses. Working with the board of directors, he executed a strategic planning process to establish five-year goals for education, construction and fundraising.

Nathan previously spearheaded public policy research and advocacy for Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. Working with community partners, he helped African American neighborhoods gain recognition on the National Register and access to state historic tax credits; won reauthorization of those tax credits; and secured commonsense regulations of short-term rentals. 

As staff director for the Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans, Nathan nurtured a multidisciplinary network of design practionners, community leaders, scientists and advocates for a new approach to stormwater management in Southeast Louisiana -- one that embraces a "design with nature" paradigm. 

Nathan completed the Masters of Preservation Studies program at Tulane School of Architecture. He has a deep appreciation for the region’s unique history and grasps the challenges inherent to building in a deltaic, coastal environment like Southeast Louisiana. His work on climate change and cultural heritage while at Tulane built upon a longstanding commitment to the joint protection of natural and cultural resources.

That synergistic approach was a hallmark of his seven years as executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network. A coalition of more than 125 nonprofit and community groups, the network championed energy efficiency benchmarks, conservation easements and watershed restoration. During Nathan’s tenure, the network united rural communities concerned about a proposed uranium mine with business interests downstream to protect the drinking water of more than 1 million people. 

Previously, Nathan served in a state agency tasked with improving water quality through land conservation. He served as lead author for a greenway-blueway project, Captain John Smith’s Trail on the James River. He also authored a guide book to hiking trails near Richmond, Virginia. Nathan is married to Elizabeth Lott, an ordained minister and Gulf South native. The couple have two children.

Tulane University School of Architecture, Masters of Preservation Studies, 4.0 GPA, 2015 

• Awarded best graduate thesis for developing a protocol to assess climate change vulnerability at historic sites and identify resilience measures. 

• Interned with Waggonner & Ball architects on the restoration of the Seignouret-Brulatour House. for Historic New Orleans Collection. 

• Served as grants associate for Tulane City Center (now Small Center for Collaborative Design).

• Coursework included land-use law, building and site documentation, and architectural history. 

Samford University, B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communications, 3.7 GPA, 1999 

• Four-year Presidential Scholar and Honor Society member. 

• Presented papers at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and Southern States Communication Conference. 

Professional Development and Certifications 

• Federal Emergency Management Authority: “Maturing Public Private Partnerships,” 2018 

• Gulf Research Program of the National Academies: “Grant Management Short Course,” 2018 

• Design Corps and AIA New Orleans: “Public Interest Design Institute,” 2017 

• Alliance for Justice: “Advocacy, Elections and Nonprofit Tax Law Seminar,” 2013 

• Institute for Conservation Leadership: “Leading from Within,” 2011–2012

Finance and Development Director, Museum of Arts and Sciences, Feb. 2026–present

• Financial oversight, budgeting and reporting for interdisciplinary, accredited museum.

• Grant writing and major donor relations to support $1.4-million annual budget and capital campaigns.

• Manage facilities and operations staff.

Executive Director, Historic Macon Foundation, Aug. 2023–Jan. 2026

• Directed local preservation nonprofit with an approximately $1 million annual budget, extensive public programming, and $5 million in total assets, including real estate.

• Worked closely with the board of directors to ensure sound governance and strategic direction, including the organization’s first strategic plan in 10 years.

• Modernized financial systems by moving 11 accounts to QuickBooks Online, instituting fraud protections, and clearing a backlog of overdue reconciliations and audits.

• Managed rental portfolio of 12 market-rate housing units, 14 deeply affordable units and two commercial units.

• Managed an active construction program, including tax-credit-eligible rehabilitations and new infill houses subject to local design review.

Policy and Research Director, Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, Jan. 2019–Aug. 2023 

• Managed government and community relations at local, state and federal levels. 

• Assisted executive director in strategic planning, governance and board development. 

• Penned articles for Preservation in Print magazine and white papers for policymakers. 

• Working groups included Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance, Preservation Priorities Task Force of the National Trust, and Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Historic Buildings. 

• Successfully advocated for the 2023 reauthorization of a state historic tax credit and 2022 changes to state law and a local ordinance increasing penalties for unlawful demolition.

• Authored nomination for historically African American neighborhood of Pontchartrain Park to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. 

Director, The Water Collaborative, Oct. 2015–Jan. 2019 

• Managed launch of new nonprofit with mission to make New Orleans a global leader in green     infrastructure, including branding and marketing, fund development, and board development. 

• Convened interdisciplinary working groups of architects, engineers, academics, and agency staff. 

• Planned and promoted monthly continuing education seminars, walking tours, and public forums. 

• Represented the organization on local government advisory committees and before decision makers. 

Executive Director, Virginia Conservation Network, July 2006–Nov. 2013 

• Represented a nonprofit coalition to the press, regulators, and legislators, including public speaking. 

• Convened five expert working groups to produce an annual compendium of policy white papers. 

• Implemented grant and individual-donor fundraising to support a staff of five. 

• Facilitated governance and strategic planning by the network’s board of directors. 

• Planned and promoted workshops and conferences to reach 800 or more volunteers annually. 

Public Relations Specialist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Dec. 2004–July 2006 

• Developed agency messages and communication priorities with senior leadership. 

• Issued agency press releases, responded to media inquiries, and produced quarterly newsletter. 

• Served as lead author for Capt. John Smith’s Trail on the James River and as liaison to tribes and     localities. 

Managing Editor, Menasha Ridge Press, Oct. 2000–Oct. 2004 

• Coordinated book production from the manuscript stage to completion. 

• Copyedited, proofread, and fact-checked manuscripts and galleys.

• Architectural Conservation in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, 2024: chapters on climate change and heritage preservation in Aleutian Islands

• AIA Building Reuse Guide, 2023: Technical advisory committee member

• Preservation in Print magazine, May 2022: “Advocacy in Action,” cover story

• Preservation in Print magazine, April  2022: “Solar Energy for Historic Buildings,” cover story

• Preservation Resource Center White Paper, November 2021: “Just Fine? Rethinking penalties for illegal demolition in local historic districts.”

• Preservation in Print magazine, October 2021: “Jazz landmarks, shotgun houses, churches among historic structures seriously damaged by [Hurricane] Ida”

• Preservation in Print magazine, April  2021: “Clean Living” article on energy performance in older homes and “Living with Water” article on stormwater management

• Museum exhibit, 2021: “The History and Politics behind Pontchartrain Park” displayed at Leeds Iron Foundry and based on National Register of Historic Places nomination research

• Preservation in Print magazine, September 2020: “Understanding Historic Districts in New Orleans” 

• Preservation in Print magazine, February 2020: “Untapped Potential,” cover story on vacant and blighted landmarks

• Architectural Conservation in Asia, 2017: chapter on climate change and preservation

• Captain John Smith’s Trail on the James River, 2006: 15 interpretive signs and three printed maps with historical information and images

• 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Richmond, 2005 (2nd edition, 2010): 240-page guide featuring Virginia’s history and ecology

• Middle Georgia AIA Continuing Education Meeting, 2025: Fundamentals of Historic Tax Credits

• Historic Property Redevelopment Programs Summit, Asheville, NC, 2025: Neighborhood renewal

• Commercial Development, Vision to Reality Livestream, 2022 (host): Three-part series featuring members of National Association of Women in Construction

• Action Patrimoine Québec: A Culture and Built Environment of Continued Resiliency, 2021

• Climate Heritage Network Livestream Briefing, 2021: Building reuse as climate action

• Building New Orleans Livestream, 2021 (host): Five-part series of conversations with architects 

• State of the Coast, New Orleans, 2021: Cultural heritage tools for coastal restoration  

• NASA Cultural Resource Managers Summit, New Orleans, LA, 2019: Vulnerability assessments

• AIA Gulf Coast Green, Houston, TX, 2018: New Orleans’ transition from recovery to resilience

• Keeping History Above Water, Annapolis, MD, 2017: How nonprofits add value to local initiatives 

• Greenbuild, Los Angeles, CA, 2016: Integrated water management in New Orleans 

• Association for Preservation Technology, San Antonio, TX, 2016: Flood risk mitigation  

• National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Mobile, AL, 2016: Climate resilience at historic sites 

• National Wildlife Federation, Nebraska City, NE, 2010: Building coalitions and networks

• Virginia Preservation Conference, Lynchburg, VA, 2009: Preservation and environmentalism 

• Virginia Festival of the Book, Richmond, VA, 2007: Regional parks and historic sites

AWARDS 

• Partner in Excellence, presented by New Orleans Architectural Foundation, 2017 

• Outstanding Master’s Thesis, presented by Tulane School of Architecture, 2015  

• Distinguished Service to the Commonwealth, presented by Virginia DCR, 2006 

BOARD SERVICE 

• Docomomo Louisiana, 2022-2023

• Louisiana Landmarks Society, 2015–2022 (Secretary, Advocacy Co-chair)

• Parkway Partners, 2017–2019 (Secretary)

• Choose Clean Water Coalition, 2009–2013 

• Virginia Civic Engagement Roundtable, 2011–2013

• State Environmental Leadership Program, 2008–2012 (Chair, Vice Chair)