Charleston native Ivey Gibbs named Director of Preservation and Interpretation
from Staff Reports
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens has announced the appointment of Charleston native Ivey Gibbs as its new Director of Preservation and Interpretation. Gibbs, who has been with Magnolia since 2021, brings both a deep local connection and a global perspective to one of the Lowcountry’s most historic sites.
Since joining Magnolia, Gibbs has worked across nearly every department—from guiding tours to shaping strategic programming—giving her a unique understanding of the visitor experience. In her new leadership role, she will be responsible for overseeing all visitor-facing narratives, ensuring the stories Magnolia tells remain historically accurate while resonating with today’s audiences.
Gibbs’ academic background reflects her dedication to cultural heritage. After graduating with honors from Honors College at Lander University, where she studied history and spent a year abroad at the University of Winchester in England, she went on to earn a master’s degree with distinction in Cultural Heritage and Resource Management from Winchester University. Her dissertation examined the legacy of the “Lost Cause” movement and its lasting impact on systemic racism in the American South, work that she says informs her approach to interpreting Magnolia’s complex history.
“Ivey’s deep familiarity with Charleston and her professional experience at Magnolia make her the ideal person to lead our interpretation and preservation efforts,” said Magnolia CEO Susan Shallo. “She brings a thoughtful understanding of the site’s layered history, and we are confident her leadership will ensure Magnolia’s stories are shared with authenticity, respect, and historical accuracy.”
For Gibbs, the promotion is the culmination of a journey that began when she joined Magnolia as a tour guide. “I’ve been fortunate to grow alongside Magnolia,” she said. “My new position is about listening, evolving, and creating space for complex truths. I want every visitor to leave Magnolia feeling connected to a story bigger than themselves, one that’s honest, inclusive, and alive.”
With roots reaching back to 1679, Magnolia Plantation remains one of the Lowcountry’s most visited historic sites. Under Gibbs’ leadership, its preservation and interpretation efforts aim to honor the past while engaging visitors in meaningful dialogue about history’s role in shaping the present.
