Pasadena Heritage Names Dr. Bridget Lawlor as Executive Director

Pasadena Heritage announced Monday it has selected Dr. Bridget Lawlor, the organization’s preservation director since 2024, to serve as its next executive director, capping a yearlong transition in leadership at one of the city’s most visible historic preservation nonprofits. Dr. Lawlor will begin in an acting capacity on Nov. 1 and assume the role officially on Dec. 1, succeeding interim executive director Zoot Velasco.

Michael Robleto, Pasadena Heritage’s board chair, said in a statement that the board looked forward to Dr. Lawlor’s leadership “and the positive impact she will continue to have on our organization and community,” and thanked interim director “for guiding us through this transitional period.”

Dr. Lawlor, an accomplished preservation leader with more than 15 years of experience in historic preservation, archival management and cultural resource stewardship, joined Pasadena Heritage last year after serving as Riverside County’s historic preservation officer, where she managed a $1.2 million budget and oversaw initiatives to safeguard nationally and state-registered historic sites. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in history, with a concentration in archival studies, from Claremont Graduate University.

In Pasadena, she has led advocacy and education efforts for the nonprofit, including support for Measure PL, partnerships that launched the Altadena Revealed lecture series, and delivered the successful 2025 Pasadena Heritage Bridge Party.

Dr. Lawlor is also working with staff, volunteers and partner organizations on Craftsman Week in October and has engaged with preservation partners at the local and state levels to advance amendments to SB 79 aimed at strengthening protections for historic resources.

“I am honored to step into this role at such an important moment for Pasadena Heritage,” Dr. Lawlor said in the organization’s announcement.

“From celebrating our region’s architectural treasures to ensuring their protection for generations to come, I look forward to building on our strong foundation and continuing to expand our impact in Pasadena and beyond.”

In an interview, Dr. Lawlor said she intended for Pasadena Heritage to be “a constructive partner,” emphasizing early collaboration with developers and city leaders so that new housing and mixed-use projects “respect the character and fabric of historic neighborhoods and districts” while meeting community needs. She said her first priority, where feasible, was adaptive reuse — “the greenest building is the one that’s already built.”

The appointment situates Dr. Lawlor at the center of an evolving policy landscape in California in which cities are under pressure to add housing while maintaining historic fabric. Dr. Lawlor said she plans to elevate Pasadena Heritage’s advocacy on state issues and expand public engagement, with new formats and partnerships designed to bring preservation to broader audiences.

Pasadena Heritage, founded in 1977, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to identify, preserve and protect the historic, architectural and cultural resources of the city through advocacy and education.