in-dialogue program
Where History Lives: The Civic Role of America’s Historic Homes and the Legacy of John Jay
Friday, January 23 | January 23rd, 2026
moderator
Ellen McGauley
Executive Director, VERANDA
Ellen McGauley
Executive Director, VERANDA
Ellen McGauley is the executive editor of VERANDA. In the more than 20 years she’s spent writing design, preservation, travel, and garden stories, her career has taken her from New York to Charleston to Birmingham, where she lives presently and develops pieces with the leading design voices in the U.S. and around the globe. In addition to penning and editing hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from Irish Georgian architecture to humble island craft traditions, she leads panel discussions at events across the country on topics that shine a light on the soul of a home. Follow her on Instagram at @ellenmcgauley.
panelists
Martha Stewart
Business Professional and Television Personality
Martha Stewart
Business Professional and Television Personality
Martha Stewart is a New York Times-bestselling author, Emmy Award-winning TV host, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught billions of people the joy of homemaking. Martha is best known for turning her passion for everyday living into a business empire that has made her a household name around the world. In 1972, she launched a catering business in Westport, Connecticut, which led to her first book, Entertaining. She has since authored over 100 books and founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, spanning publishing, television, and digital platforms. Her products are sold worldwide, reaching over 100 million fans each month. Among her philanthropic efforts, she established the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai in 2007. She is the proud mother of Alexis Stewart and grandmother of Jude and Truman.
Ben Prosky
President, The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation
Ben Prosky
President, The Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation
Benjamin Prosky currently serves as President of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, which advances education, innovation, and stewardship in the fields of historic preservation, decorative arts, and historic landscapes. He has previously served as Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects New York (AIANY) | Center for Architecture; Assistant Dean for Communications at Harvard Graduate School of Design and Director of Special Events and External Affairs at Columbia University, GSAPP. Prosky has also worked internationally, holding positions at The Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal and Institut francais d’architecture in Paris. In 2009 he co-founded, Architizer.