Staff profile

Tracy M. Dean, B.A. M.H.P.

Consulting Architectural Historian/Preservation Specialist

What do you do at Southern Research?

I conduct architectural surveys, review and evaluate historic resources for cultural resources surveys, conduct historical research, and write developmental histories and National Register nominations.

How did you become interested in Architecture and History?

My family was from Mobile, Alabama and I was born at Fort McClellan, Alabama, yet grew up in Columbus, Georgia. My earliest memories of interest in architecture and history go back to when I was nine years old and my family would visit Mobile. My mother would ask me what I wanted to do (translated: where would I like to shop) and I would always insist on touring the historic district and hearing the stories of the city.

Although I always had an interest in architecture and history I thought I wanted to be a doctor. Through middle school and high school I prepared for college and started out Pre-Med at the University of Georgia. After a year, I realized I could not handle dissecting live animals and I transferred to Georgia State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Design and a minor in business.

When I was working on my Bachelor degree, I discovered I could get a Masters in Historic Preservation. The joy I felt upon this discovery was indescribable. I immediately took the GRE and overloaded on my coursework to graduate in December in order to enter the Masters Program at Georgia State University in January.

Any hobbies?

When I am not busy chasing my two children and four dogs, I enjoy running, biking, swimming, hiking, canoeing, teaching yoga, gardening and reading. My motto is “try everything once and all the fun things twice.” I took up running in August 2003 and ran my first marathon in January 2004!

And what's the neatest thing you've ever found?

I love conducting archival research. Inevitably, I read great information that truly is stranger than fiction. Working on a project in Americus, Georgia I discovered the town had a coroner at the turn-of-the-century who lost both arms in a cane mill accident as a child and his nickname was “Nub”. It is difficult for me to think of Americus and not think of the greatly respected coroner Nub.