Jenny Hay

Jenny Hay, Ph.D. is a historical geographer with a background in community outreach, advocacy, and digital humanities. A fifth-generation Texan, Jenny earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas State University-San Marcos before pursuing a doctorate in Geography & Anthropology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Her research explored questions related to resilience, heritage tourism, and historic preservation in cities across the American South. Jenny’s career pursuits have varied from managing a housing grant program to opening a small museum. She also participated in disaster response operations for Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Before arriving at the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, Jenny worked at the National Center for Preservation Technology & Training and the San Antonio Conservation Society. Today she manages the ScoutSA program, the City’s comprehensive survey and designation initiative.