JuanRaymon Rubio Preservation Fellowship

JuanRaymon Rubio Preservation Fellowship

Applications Due: December 15, 2025; Anticipated Start Date: January 8, 2026

About the Fellowship

Preservation Austin and Architexas have partnered to establish this year-long Fellowship in memory of our colleague and collaborator, JuanRaymon Rubio. This unique opportunity is intended for an Austin-based undergraduate or graduate student who is seriously considering a career working with historic places. The Fellowship carries on its namesake’s legacy by championing underrepresented heritage, empowering underrepresented voices in the preservation field, and investing in future preservation leaders.

The Rubio Fellow will advance the preservation and interpretation of underrepresented heritage in Austin. Underrepresented heritage includes places of meaning to the African American, Mexican American, Indigenous, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ communities, and women. 

The Rubio Fellow will build strong professional skills and industry connections. They will work closely with Preservation Austin’s staff and regularly engage in learning opportunities with Architexas. Each month the Rubio Fellow will shadow a professional from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to gain firsthand knowledge about their career options within the wide-ranging historic preservation field, from regulatory agencies, to craftsmen, to affordable housing developers.

Projects will include:

• Documenting historic places through archival research and interviews 
• Working with property owners to prepare historic designation applications that facilitate future investment through historic tax credits and/or grant funding
• Producing field documentation for historic buildings, including 3D scanning and conditions assessments
• Interpreting history to broad audience through articles, social media, and public programming
• Policy research and data analysis
• Presenting to local commissions and stakeholder groups

Job Basics

This is a 12-month fellowship, aligning with calendar year 2026.

Fellows will work approximately 10 hours per week, or a total of 480 hours for the year, and report to Preservation Austin’s Executive Director.

Fellows will be paid $15 per hour for a total of $7,500 and are responsible for recording and submitting their timesheets. 

Preservation Austin does not offer health benefits or paid vacation for temporary employees.

About You

• Historic preservation is your passion, you can’t imagine doing anything else.
• You love advocacy and are ready to fight for historic places that need a voice.
• You’re curious by nature and interested in learning about different perspectives and experiences, both in professional and community-based settings.
• Bring some experience in one or more of the following: archival research, academic writing, architectural analysis and description, photography, and video work.
• Knowledge of architectural history and terminology is a plus.
• Have excellent communications skills and a professional demeanor. 
• Enjoy public speaking or are ready to build these skills.
• Experience with data analysis, GIS mapping, and/or statistics is a plus.
• Proficient in social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) and software (Canva, iMovie, Microsoft Office, Google Drive, AirTable, Adobe Creative Cloud).

Requirements

• Must be Austin-based and serious about pursuing a career in historic preservation.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in progress, preferably in historic preservation, architecture, history, art history, public policy, political science, or urban studies.
• Access to a laptop computer, internet, and reliable transportation.