Andrew Le and Qing Xue were elected to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) Board of Directors during the organization’s 63rd Annual Meeting in January at the chapel at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park.
Following the election, SBTHP presented annual community awards and certificates of appreciation.
William B. Dewey received the Pearl Chase Historic Preservation and Conservation Award for his decades of service to the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, volunteering for many years on the Trust’s Artifacts & Exhibit Committee.
The Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department received the George and Vivian Obern Preservation Stewardship Award for demonstrating outstanding preservation work in connection with the Carrillo Recreation Center Gym restoration.
John Doordan received the President’s Award for his extraordinary contributions to SBTHP.
Sally Foxen McNeill received the Sue Higman Volunteer of the Year Award for her numerous contributions to SBTHP events and the Once a Don Always a Don exhibit in the prior year.
The SPACE, MariaElena Lopez, received the Partnership Award for their numerous contributions to the organization’s education programs and visitor experience.
Debby Aceves received the Life Honorary Director Award for her significant contributions to the organization’s mission through countless hours of volunteer service, and offering her expertise and trusted perspective as a ninth-generation Presidio family descendant, nonprofit leader and cultural educator.
Ron Nye was chosen as a Life Honorary Member for his sustained efforts supporting SBTHP’s historic preservation and conservation projects.
A Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to EQ25 for its partnership and collaborative work with the new exhibit at Casa de la Guerra, Santa Barbara 1925-2025: A Portrait in Maps, and their larger community-wide commemoration of the 1925 earthquake in Santa Barbara.
New board member Andrew Le is the CEO and cofounder of Cleverific, a Santa Barbara-based company helping e-commerce merchants unlock hidden revenue through post-purchase optimization and order management solutions.
A chemist-turned-software-engineer-turned-entrepreneur, Le holds a bachelor of science in chemistry from UC Santa Barbara. He brings technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision to his leadership role.
Qing Xue is an architect specializing in classical and traditional design, with experience in the U.S. and the U.K. Her work includes residential, institutional and historic restoration projects, and she combines her background in engineering with an artistic sensibility and creative problem-solving.
In Santa Barbara, she has been active in historic preservation and community planning, contributing to efforts such as the State Street master plan.
She also pursues her passion for the arts through drawing, watercolor and pottery.
Born in China, Qing earned a master of architecture from the University of Notre Dame; She also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering.