Middlesex College Public History Program Recognized for Preservation Stewardship
The program was honored for its innovative efforts and hands-on approach at Preservation New Jersey’s 2025 Historic Preservation Awards.
(l-r): Cristobal Espinoza-Wulach, Middlesex College history professor; Gordon Bond Preservation New Jersey board member; Mark Nonestied, Preservation New Jersey
vice president
The Middlesex College Public History Program received an Honorable Mention for Preservation Stewardship at Preservation New Jersey’s 2025 Historic Preservation Awards.
The Public History Program, led by History Professor Cristobal Espinoza-Wulach, was cited for its hands-on approach to teaching preservation and innovative efforts of integrating historic sites, museum collections, and living history within course curriculums.
“Middlesex County is at the crossroads of the American Revolution, however, many residents are not aware of this historic and cultural heritage,” said Espinoza-Wulach. “As a program, we are proud of our ability to engage students with their local history, help them to develop career-readiness skills, and to serve our active county community.”
Espinoza-Wulach also credits his colleagues Professor Kelly Ruffel and Professor Dennis Johnson in this team effort. Ruffel has been teaching history courses at the East Jersey Old Town Village and Johnson, who works in the Perth Amboy and New Brunswick Centers, engages students with local history in their regions.
The acknowledgement also highlighted the College’s newly-established certificate of Oral History and Digitization, which was launched this Fall. This micro-credential provides a direct connection from academic skills to the workforce for those interested in public history and archival studies.
Business Administration student Emmanuel Ojeda Medel said participating in the program was eye-opening. “This line of work is important to preserve both the structures and objects from a time before our own,” said Medel. “Students in this program can learn not only about New Jersey’s history, but the importance of preserving relics of the past to truly understand how far we’ve come.”
