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
Description: Dr. Kristina Anderson-Teixeira, Forest Ecologist, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute & Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 2012–present, leads the ForestGEO Ecosystems and Climate Program. In 2019, she won the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. #Groundbreaker
Description: Dr. Melanie A. Adams, Director, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, 2019–present, previously served as the deputy director of learning initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society and the managing director of the Missouri Historical Society. She brings twenty-five years of community engagement experience to the Smithsonian. #Groundbreaker
Description: Dr. Melissa Chiu, Director, Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 2014–present, oversees a staff of 50 and a collection of 12,000 objects. Within the first year of her tenure, Chiu doubled the number of museum board members, and, in 2017, the Hirshhorn Museum met a milestone of one million visitors. #Groundbreaker
Description: Dr. Valerie Fletcher joined the research staff at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in 1978 and was promoted to a curatorial role in 1984. Fletcher worked as an Assistant and Associate Curator, 1984–92, Curator of Sculpture, 1992–2005, and Senior Curator, 2005–16. In retirement, Fletcher continues her research at the Museum as Senior Curator Emerita. #Groundbreaker
Description: Elaine R.S. Hodges, scientific illustrator at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 1965–1996, made drawings of insects and other organisms that were frequently used by Smithsonian scientists. She was a founder of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and edited the Guild Handbook of Scientific Illustration (1989). #Groundbreaker
Description: Leila Gay Forbes Clark, director of Smithsonian’s library, 1942–1957, was the second woman to direct the library at the Smithsonian. She led early efforts to create a more centralized library system. In 1952, she coauthored The Butterflies of Virginia with her husband, zoologist Austin Hobart Clark. #Groundbreaker
Description: Mary Grace Potter, founding director of the Visitor Information and Associates’ Reception Center, 1971–2000, established and led the unit responsible for providing information to Smithsonian members and the public by mail, telephone, and in person. In 1978, Potter won the first annual Robert A. Brooks Award for Excellence in Administration. #Groundbreaker
Description: Meroe Park became the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Smithsonian in 2020. She oversees day-to-day activities and major strategic initiatives across the Smithsonian. Previously, Park was the executive vice president of the Partnership for Public Service and executive director and chief operating officer of the Central Intelligence Agency. #Groundbreaker
Description: Shireen L. Dodson worked as Comptroller for the Smithsonian Institution (1986–1992), Associate Director for Administration and Planning at the National African-American Museum Project (1992–1995), and Associate Director for Administration at the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture (1995–2000). #Groundbreaker