Description: Adela Gómez, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 1945-83, spent the majority of her years at the Smithsonian as a special administrative assistant to the director. In 1977, she was presented with the Smithsonian Institution Secretary’s Gold Medal for Exceptional Service. #Groundbreaker
Description: Janet W. Solinger, Director of the Smithsonian Resident Associates Program, 1972-1992, helped expand the Smithsonian's continuing education program membership tenfold. In 1993, she served as Director of Special Projects, assisting with planning for the Smithsonian's 150th anniversary. #Groundbreaker
Description: Laura L. McKie, Assistant Director for Education, 1987–2001, planned, coordinated, and conducted educational activities at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. She began her career with the museum as a docent in 1969, and in 1971, she was hired as an Anthropology Education Specialist . #Groundbreaker
Description: Dr. Elizabeth Broun, Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery, 1989–2016, oversaw major renovations, welcomed groundbreaking exhibitions, and diversified the museum’s collections. She served as the museum’s Chief Curator and Assistant Director, 1983–88. #Groundbreaker
Description: Deborah Bell, Assistant Collections Manager for the U.S. Herbarium at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 1975–2014, conserved, documented, and made accessible the collection of five million plant specimens. She participated in numerous expeditions, collecting specimens and training local students and staff. #Groundbreaker
Description: Lora Moran-Collins, 3D Studio Supervisor at Smithsonian Exhibits, made dioramas, mannequins, and models of horses, sea lions, dogs and more for displays across the Smithsonian from 1981 to 2017. #Groundbreaker
Description: Manjula Kumar was a Project Manager and Project Director in various offices around the Smithsonian, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Education and Public Service and the Center for Education and Museum Studies, between 1985 and 2015. She organized multicultural programming and directed the award process for proposals submitted to the Educational Outreach
Description: Corine Wegener, Director of the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative has been working to preserve cultural heritage in crisis situations in the U.S. and around the world for the Smithsonian since 2010. A former U.S. Army Reserve officer, she regularly organizes military cultural heritage events at the Smithsonian. #Groundbreaker
Description: Catherine “Kitty” Scott, Chief Librarian and Director, National Air and Space Museum Library, 1972–94, began organizing, planning, and maintaining the new library well before the museum had opened. For her efforts, Scott earned the Superior Service Award In 1976. #Groundbreaker
Description: Dorothy T. Van Arsdale, Chief, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, 1964–70, managed logistics for traveling exhibitions around the world. A major part of her role was negotiating with host countries about shipping, transportation, conservation, and more. #Groundbreaker
Description: Dr. Katherine Ralls, Senior Research Zoologist Emerita, Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, was one of the first scientists hired at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and is a founder of the Society for Conservation Biology. She has conducted research in mammalogy and conservation biology at the Smithsonian since 1973. #Groundbreaker