The National Trust announces new Executive Director of Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House

Woodlawn and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House, historic sites of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, welcomed the appointment this week of their next Executive Director Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar.

Ruki is an internationally recognized design leader, educator, and cultural executive with more than two decades of experience advancing creativity, education, and public engagement across nonprofit and cultural institutions. Her previous leadership roles include President and CEO of the Kansas City Art Institute, Acting Under Secretary for Education at the Smithsonian Institution, and Acting Director of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where she led initiatives centered on learning, inclusion, and public engagement. She holds an MFA in Graphic Design from Iowa State University and a BFA in Fine Art from Stella Maris College, along with executive education credentials from Harvard University and Yale University.

"Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House invite us to reflect on the evolving American story, from inherited power to modern aspiration through architecture and lived experience," said the new Executive Director Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar. "I'm excited to work alongside the dedicated team to preserve their legacy while expanding access, dialogue, and meaning for today's audiences."

"Ruki brings a global perspective to her work and a deep belief that places, stories, and design shape how people understand identity, belonging, and history," said Omar A. Eaton-Martinez, Senior Vice President for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "She is widely respected for her ability to translate complex histories into meaningful public experiences and to lead institutions through moments of reflection, growth, and renewal. We look forward to her new era of leadership."

Woodlawn is a plantation estate in Alexandria, Virginia that was originally part of George Washington's Mount Vernon. The Pope-Leighey House is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed Usonian-style residence that was originally located nearby in Falls Church, and was relocated next to Woodlawn in 1965 to save it from being demolished for a highway project. Woodlawn and the Pope-Leighey House have distinct histories but today are located adjacent to each other and are operated as a single unit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The site is open for public tours from mid-April to late-December. More info about visiting here.