Sam Hart of Aquinnah has been named Islands director for the Trustees of Reservations, the land conservancy announced in a press release this week.

An Island native who grew up in Chilmark, Mr. Hart will leave his post as executive director of ACE MV, the Vineyard adult learning program, for the new job beginning May 20.

In a separate press release, ACE MV praised Mr. Hart for his work at the helm of that organization.

In his new role, Mr. Hart will join the Eastern leadership team for the Trustees, and will oversee daily operations and management of the eight Trustees properties on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Vineyard properties include Wasque Reservatiion, Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge and Mytoi gardens on Chappaquiddick, Long Point Wildlife Refige in West Tisbury and Menemsha Hills Reservation in Chilmark. The Trustees also manage Norton Point beach for Dukes County.

A 1995 graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Mr. Hart earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from New York University and is fluent in Russian. He worked for human rights groups at the United Nations in New York city before returning to the Island in 2011.

He lives in Aquinnah with his wife and son.

“I’m grateful to the Trustees for my many childhood memories and experiences of playing in the woods at Menemsha Hills, herding cows at Katama Farm, and swimming at Long Point Wildlife Refuge,” Mr. Hart said in the press release. “I’m honored to continue the work of protecting these unique properties.”

Former Islands director Eunice Youmans left her post over the winter and now works for the Island Grown Initiative, Trustees beach and property steward Chris Kennedy said.