Cultural Affairs Office

Press and Communications

Mayor Bill White Appoints Minnette Boesel Assistant for Cultural Affairs

August 21, 2008 -- Mayor Bill White has named Minnette Boesel to serve as his Assistant for Cultural Affairs.

"Minnette Boesel is a great asset for us," said Mayor White. "Her breadth of knowledge and her community involvement over the years means she is able to hit the ground running and help us move a number of important arts and preservation projects forward. We're fortunate to have her."

Boesel replaces Emily Todd, who left the Mayor's Office to accept the appointment as deputy director of the Menil Collection Museum.

Prior to joining the Mayor's office, Boesel was dedicated to her role as owner/broker of Minnette Boesel Properties, Inc. The firm was formed in 1996 to help initiate downtown residential development and brokerage services utilizing historic buildings, primarily, in the Downtown Historic District.

Boesel holds a Bachelor of Arts in art history from Briarcliff College and a Master of Science in historic preservation from Columbia University.

Boesel previously worked as executive director for the Downtown Historic District, Inc., which was founded by the Downtown Houston Association and other organizations, to help revitalize the Downtown Historic District. She has served as Chair of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ #3 and on the boards of the Houston Association of Realtors, the Rice Design Alliance and the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance. She is an ex officio board member of the Houston Arts Alliance.

Boesel also served as Executive Director for the Downtown Houston Association, Preservation Maryland and the Georgia Trust Historic Preservation; three nonprofit organizations which focused on historic preservation, educational programming, special events and publications.

“I am honored to serve the Mayor and the City in an effort to enhance Houston's economic vitality and quality of life through the arts, historic preservation and educational projects,” stated Boesel.