Description: As the Smithsonian Women's Council Career Development Chair, Francine Berkowitz, former Director of the Office of International Relations, established career planning workshops to help women and minorities advance at the Smithsonian. #Groundbreaker
Description: Retail Associate, Helen Jagodzinske, National Museum of American History, was the oldest employee at the Smithsonian when she retired at age 94. Prior to that, she served at the Pentagon as clerk, and in the Women's Army Corp during WWII. #Groundbreaker
Description: Carolyn E. Jones was the director of the Smithsonian’s Office of Human Resources between 1996 until her retirement in 2003. She initially joined the Institution in 1983 as a financial analyst and at various periods worked as the director of parking and as the chief financial officer for the Smithsonian’s mail order distribution division. Jones served as the chair of the
Description: Ann Leven was responsible for the financial management of the Smithsonian as Treasurer from 1984 to 1990. Under her leadership, Smithsonian's total endowment fund nearly doubled. Leven oversaw investments, bank relations, insurance programs, management of museum shops, and more. #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: Jane Rosen Glaser was Director of the Office of Museum Programs (1976–89), Special Assistant in the offices of the Assistant Secretary for the Arts and Humanities (1989-94), Assistant Provost (1994-96), and Provost (1996). During her long career with Smithsonian, Glaser organized seminars and conferences for museum professionals and published numerous books and articles about
Description: Anna R. Cohn, Director, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), 1988–2014, toured groundbreaking exhibitions across the United States. She joined the Smithsonian in 1983 as director of the international exhibition “The Precious Legacy” and later organized “Generations” for the S. Dillon Ripley Center’s International Gallery. #Groundbreaker
Description: Sheryl Kolasinski, Director, Office of Planning and Project Management, 1995–2011, and Deputy Director, Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations, 2011–2012, managed major capital projects and helped maintain safety and security across the Smithsonian. #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: Dr. Maureen Wanjiku Kamau, Veterinary Research Fellow in One Health, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Global Health Program, 2018–present, treats injured and ill wildlife species, conducts research, and participates in outreach and training. She is currently leading a study on the endangered wild eastern black rhino. #Groundbreaker
Description: Each week, the Archives features a woman who has been a groundbreaker at the Smithsonian, past or present, in a series titled Wonderful Women Wednesday.