ST. GEORGE — Southern and central Utah have a new advocate whose major responsibility is to provide assistance to property owners and communities in historic preservation.

Susan Crook has joined Utah Heritage Foundation as a field representative, according to executive director Kirk Huffaker. She will provide assistance in determining the economic value of historic buildings, identify potential projects, conduct assessments of needs across the region, and promote programs currently in place.

Crook is a St. George resident, planner, landscape architect and cultural historian with diverse experience in public and private sectors.

The new position is funded by a challenge grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Partners in the Field program.