The need to educate a future generation of professionals capable of conserving New Mexico’s, the nation’s, and the world’s outstanding cultural heritage while creating new regionally-responsive design led to the creation of the School of Architecture and Planning's Graduate Certificate Program in Historic Preservation and Regionalism (HPR). While the school has long offered individual courses in historic preservation, and regional design and planning, demand for a coordinated program of courses increased in the 1990s.

In 1999, as a result of this demand, and a bequest from the legendary and late cultural landscape historian J. B. Jackson, the School hired Chris Wilson to bring more regional history and cultural content into its curriculum. He was also charged with strengthening the School’s connections with New Mexico’s communities. Professor Wilson brought over fifteen years experience as a cultural historian, author, writer, preservation consultant, and adjunct professor to the task. His long-term friendship with J. B. Jackson; his expertise in Southwest historic resources, and graduate education; and extensive ties to communities, non-profit organizations, and government agencies across New Mexico informed the development of the program. Wilson interviewed a wide range of government and non-profit preservationist; architects, planners, and landscape architects; government, non-profit and tribal officials, and tourism professionals who suggested a program not only in historic preservation, but also in contemporary regionally-appropriate architecture and planning. Many felt that a graduate certificate program was needed, not just in preservation but in contemporary design and planning as well.

From 2000 to 2004, Wilson raised significant funds from the state legislature, foundations, individual donors and from within the University to develop a new certificate program, establish a program endowment, and develop six new courses. Distinguished professionals teaching courses in the: areas of expertise included architect José Zelaya, preservationist Elmo Baca, architect Edith Cherry, and planner Arnold Valdez. After extensive review at the University and state level the Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation and Regionalism received formal approval in the spring of 2004.

In the fall of 2004, veteran cultural heritage educator and scholar, Chester Liebs, was appointed Adjunct Professor (Liebs was named Preservation Educator of the year by NCPE in 2005). In addition to serving as Professor Wilson's chief advisor and teaching several courses, he also developed and directed the already highly successful 2005 Southwest Summer Institute in Preservation and Regionalism. An integral part of the Certificate Program, this not only has augmented existing course offerings, but also brought in additional leading professional adjunct faculty from around the country.