Charlene Dwin Vaughn, AICP

Historic Preservation Planner

Charlene is an AICP-certified Historic Preservation Specialist based in Washington, DC, where she contributes to training and historic preservation projects. A long-time resident of Prince George’s County, Maryland, she retired from the Federal government in 2018 after four decades of service but remains actively engaged in urban planning and historic preservation, focusing on diversity, equity, and career development within these fields.

During her Federal career, Charlene served for two decades as the Assistant Director of the Office of Federal Agency Programs, overseeing compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for Federal, State, and local agencies. In retirement, she continues to shape the field through her roles on the boards of the National Preservation Institute, which sponsors preservation training nationwide, and the National Mall Coalition, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and enhancing the integrity of the National Mall.

Since joining The Urban Collaborative in 2019, Charlene has worked on contracts involving historic properties, such as the Reuse of Officer’s Housing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Her contributions include evaluating project impacts on historic properties and drafting Section 106 agreements to outline mitigation measures. Charlene holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from Federal City College, both located in Washington, DC.