Nantucket Preservation Trust is excited to announce the awarding the Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher Scholarship to Nicky Sheriff. In Spring 2025, Nicky will enter the Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation program at Boston Architectural College.
Originally from Jamaica, Nicky Sheriff has called Nantucket home since 2015, embracing the island’s rich history and architectural heritage. Currently serving as a Land Use Specialist and Historic District Commission Enforcement Officer for the Town of Nantucket, Nicky is deeply committed to safeguarding the island’s distinctive character while ensuring compliance with its historic preservation standards.
Nicky holds a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication Studies and is a Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since joining the Nantucket Planning and Land Use Services Department in 2021 as an Administrative Specialist, she has advanced to her current position, where she combines technical proficiency with a passion for protecting Nantucket’s architectural legacy.
In August 2024, Nicky travelled with the Town of Nantucket’s Preservation Planner, Holly Backus, to attend the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) Preservation Forum in West Palm Beach, FL. Nicky describes it as a transformative experience that deepened her passion for preservation and motivated her to continue her education in the field.
“Receiving this scholarship has been a tremendous honor and an opportunity to grow in my role and, by extension, as a preservation professional,” Nicky shares. “This program will equip me with the tools and knowledge to better serve Nantucket and contribute to preserving its unique history for future generations.”
All of us NPT were impressed with Nicky’s commitment to historic preservation through her hands-on experience as a Land Use Specialist and HDC Enforcement Officer for the Town of Nantucket, a role that she will continue to hold while earning her Graduate Certificate. NPT is pleased to invest in Nicky’s continued education in historic preservation at the Boston Architectural College.
The Mary Helen and Michael Fabacher Scholarship fund was established by the Fabachers and NPT in 2012 to encourage and promote traditional building methods essential for the preservation of Nantucket’s historic architecture and to provide educational opportunities to increase knowledge of these important crafts, as well as historic preservation programs, architecture, and other fields of study that preserve and steward the Nantucket National Historic Landmark. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to individuals who are graduates of Nantucket’s public or private schools, who reside on Nantucket, or who have demonstrated a long-term interest in the island. Click here for additional information.