Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., serves as the Director of the Institute for Quality Communities. Wiley has over 20 years of experience in teaching, research and professional practice in historic preservation, architecture and community engagement. She has dedicated her career to advancing the history and narrative of design and preservation in Black communities, as well as advocating for theoretically rigorous, thoughtful and inclusive expansions of preservation policy and practice. Wiley is committed to interdisciplinary approaches, applied learning opportunities for students, and addressing critical issues of equity and justice.
She believes that cultural and educational institutions must actively engage the communities they serve and increase accessibility through innovative partnerships. Wiley earned her Ph.D. in American Studies from George Washington University, a Master’s in Architectural History and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Virginia, and a B.A. in Architecture from Yale University.
A graduate of Oklahoma public schools, she currently serves on the board of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence. Amber is a native of Oklahoma City with roots in Washington, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
