‘Buff State set me up so well’: Emily Jarnot’s pandemic pivot turned successful career
Preservationists rejoiced this past spring when the Buffalo Common Council designated Genesse Street’s Vaux Barn—the last remaining structure designed by distinguished architect Calvert Vaux—as a local landmark. Among them was Emily Jarnot, ’24, who worked on the application in 2023 as an intern with Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN), where she now works full-time as a preservation planner and Niagara Falls liaison.
“My boss and I danced around the office when we heard the news,” Jarnot said. “People have been trying to get that building saved for the better half of fifteen years.”
Vaux Barn was one of six local landmark applications Jarnot completed during her 15-week internship. Each application is a deep dive into a building’s history and includes narrative components, a timeline, genealogy, photo documentation, supporting artifacts, information on its justification for preservation, and more.
“We have to tell the story of a what a building is and why it’s important,” Jarnot said. “Buildings don’t have voices, so to be a voice and an advocate for a building and our shared history is incredible.”
But before Jarnot was “turning ruins into icons”—as displayed on her graduation cap the day she earned her bachelor’s of arts in history from Buffalo State—she was working as a massage therapist, a role she enjoyed for 12 years before she discovered she’d developed a skin intolerance for the products she was using.
Faced with the fact that she could no longer continue doing the job she loved, Jarnot forged a new path, prompted by her passion for architectural photography.
Emily Jarnot stands in front of Vaux Barn, a building she helped save.
“COVID gave me a lot of time to stare at the ceiling and think, ‘What do I love more than massage?” Jarnot said. “I thought, ‘I’m kind of sick of just posting my photos on Facebook,’ so I started getting into preservation and learning about it. When I found Preservation Buffalo Niagara, I knew I wanted to work there.”
But Jarnot could never have predicted the sequence of events that would lead to her dream becoming a reality. During her time at Buffalo State, Andrew Nicholls, chair of the History and Social Studies Education Department, forwarded Jarnot an email regarding a PBN internship opportunity. The email, Jarnot discovered, was originally sent by one of her former massage therapy clients, who also worked at Buffalo State.
“I had told the client that I loved history and old buildings,” Jarnot said. “It was so magical. It felt like one of the most full circle moments.”
After her interview, PBN leadership wasted no time making Jarnot part of the team—first as an intern, and then permanently.
“Emily addressed things quickly and wasn’t afraid to take the lead,” said Bernice Radle, PBN executive director. “When her internship was over, I asked her back on a part-time basis to help with local landmark applications and other advocacy work while she completed her final semester at Buffalo State. Fast forward to a year later, and Emily is seeing the seeds she planted spring to life—including being asked to speak on historic preservation and finally getting the approval of the Vaux Barn local landmark application.”
Jarnot credits “the best professors anyone could ever ask for” not only with honing the writing and research skills she uses daily, but also with providing unparalleled levels of support.
“Without the experience I got at Buffalo State, I may have struggled. The learning and growth I had to do was painful, but so rewarding. Buff State set me up so well.”
“There is an insane amount of writing in preservation planning,” Jarnot said. “Without the experience I got at Buffalo State, I may have struggled. Every one of my professors challenged me to be a better writer. The learning and growth I had to do was painful, but so rewarding. I also learned about different resources for research; I had no idea about the vast network of scholarly sources. Buff State set me up so well.”
“Not only was Emily an excellent student, but it was also clear that she was passionate about this region, its history, and a future that would see value in the past,” said Nicholls, who Jarnot referred to as her mentor. “Preservation Buffalo Niagara was a perfect place for her. In my interactions with Bernice Radle, it was evident that Emily was making a positive impression. That she is now employed full-time is a testament to her enthusiasm, professionalism, and Preservation Buffalo Niagara's recognition of an emerging leader.”
While a career pivot like hers seemed incredibly daunting when she began, Jarnot is now convinced it’s possible for anyone.
“There’s nothing more valuable than going to do the thing,” she said. “It’s hard—you don’t know the first thing about changing your life. But anybody can. If you want it, go get it. Here’s your permission—go get it.”
Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer; video by Ken Giangreco and John Myers, Buffalo State Marketing and Communications.
