Norwich — In a move designed to boost popular heritage tourism programs, the Norwich Historical Society announced it has named consultant Regan Miner as its new part-time executive director.

Miner, a Norwich native and 2010 Norwich Free Academy graduate, had been serving as a part-time consultant to the Norwich Historical Society and has worked on numerous major projects for the group, including renovation of the 18th century Daniel Lathrop Schoolhouse on the Norwichtown Green as the Norwich Heritage & Regional Visitors' Center with exhibits she helped complete, obtaining grants to restore another 18th century former schoolhouse, creating interactive self-guided walking tours and organizing bi-weekly seasonal walking tours of Norwich.

“NHS is serious about taking Norwich's heritage tourism initiatives to the next level, and officially naming Regan as our executive director was the first step,” historical society President Bill Champagne said in a news release announcing the appointment.

Miner also works part-time as associate director of the New London County Historical Society. She will retain that position, working three days a week for the county society and two days a week in Norwich, Miner said.

Her goals for the Norwich Historical Society include enhancing Norwich’s heritage tourism initiatives, coordinating historically themed festivals and continuing to seek funding to restore historic properties.

“I’m passionate about enhancing Norwich’s heritage tourism efforts because heritage tourism is economic development,” Miner said in the news release.

At age 27, Miner already has a long resume of accomplishments and projects in local historic preservation and tourism promotion. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in history and holds a master’s degree in public history, with a specialty in interpreting history for the public, from Central Connecticut State University. In 2018, she worked for the city planning department as the historical consultant to coordinate creation of the Uncas Leap Heritage Area site at Yantic Falls. She worked with the planning office to establish a Village District Overlay Zone in the Norwichtown area as part of her master’s degree. She volunteers for the Society of the Founders of Norwich and serves as the vice chairman of the Norwich Historic District Commission.

In 2016, she received the 40 under 40 Award and the Connecticut Governor’s Conference on Tourism Rising Star Award, and in 2018, she received the Mimi Findlay Award for Young Preservationists.

c.bessette@theday.com