Lonnie Bunch Announces Retirement as Smithsonian Secretary
Bunch leaves after seven years leading the Smithsonian, which expanded with two new museums and a major digital transformation under his tenure.
- On Tuesday, Lonnie G. Bunch III announced his retirement after seven years as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, describing his tenure as a profound privilege and calling the institution one of the great loves of his life.
- Bunch began his career in the late 1970s when Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins hired him to work in the education department, later returning to lead the NMAAHC before his 2019 appointment as Secretary.
- His tenure expanded the institution's roster of 19 museums by adding two new members: the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino, cementing institutional growth.
- Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, who serves as the Smithsonian chancellor, said the Board of Regents will manage the transition and ensure a smooth succession for Bunch's replacement.
- Bunch described the Smithsonian as a "national classroom," emphasizing that the institution's work helps the nation understand its complex history and remains essential to America's self-understanding.
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Smithsonian head Lonnie Bunch to retire amid Trump administration effort to reshape institution
Lonnie Bunch III said Tuesday that he will retire as the head of the Smithsonian Institution, a role that placed him at the center of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the world’s largest museum organization.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch Steps Down Amid Strife With Trump
The first Black historian to lead the world’s largest museum and research complex says he’s retiring and will leave by year’s end. He and the Smithsonian’s exhibits have become a frequent target of Trump’s ire.
Smithsonian chief to retire as Trump fights to reshape the institution
Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Smithsonian’s first Black secretary, said President Donald Trump’s pressure played no role in his decision and vowed to defend the institution’s independence until he leaves.
Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III Announces Retirement as Head of the Smithsonian After 38 Years of Service to the Institution
After a storied career dating back to the 1970s, Bunch leaves a remarkable legacy, most notably the founding of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
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