MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 27, 2014, MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

ATTENDANCE

This scheduled meeting of the Board of Regents was held on Monday, January 27, 2014. The Board 

conducted morning, afternoon, and executive sessions in the Regents’ Room in the Smithsonian 

Castle Building. Board Chair France Córdova called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Also present 

were: 

The Chief Justice 1

Barbara Barrett

Xavier Becerra 

Stephen M. Case

Tom Cole 

Shirley Ann Jackson

Robert P. Kogod 

Patrick J. Leahy

John W. McCarter Jr. 

David M. Rubenstein

Sakurako Fisher, Smithsonian National Board Chair

John Fahey, Regent Nominee

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.; Senator Thad Cochran; Senator Jack Reed; and Representative 

Sam Johnson were unable to attend the meeting. 

Also present were: 

G. Wayne Clough, Secretary 

Patricia L. Bartlett, Chief of Staff to the Secretary 

Claudine K. Brown, Assistant Secretary for 

Education and Access (ASEA)

Amy Chen, Chief Investment Officer

Epin Christensen, Acting Inspector General

Virginia B. Clark, Director of Advancement and 

Philanthropic Giving

Barbara Feininger, Office of the Regents Senior 

Writer-Editor (recorder)

Albert Horvath, Under Secretary for Finance and

Administration/Chief Financial Officer

Richard Kurin, Under Secretary for History, Art, 

and Culture 

John K. Lapiana, Deputy Under Secretary for 

Finance and Administration

Judith Leonard, General Counsel 

Evelyn S. Lieberman, Director of Communications

and External Affairs 

Christopher Liedel, President of Smithsonian 

Enterprises

Nell Payne, Director of Government Relations 

Eva J. Pell, Under Secretary for Science 

Jeffrey P. Minear, Counselor to the Chief Justice 

Tonya N. Williams, Assistant to the Vice President 

Kevin McDonald, Assistant to Senator Leahy 

Moira Lenehan-Razzuri, Assistant to Senator Reed

Sean Murphy, Assistant to Congressman Cole

David Heil, Assistant to Congressman Johnson 

Jonathan Coddington, National Museum of Natural 

History Associate Director for Research and 

Collections

Robert Fleischer, National Zoological 

Park/Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute 

Conservation and Evolutionary Geneticist 

Kevin Gover, National Museum of the American 

Indian (NMAI) Director

Peter Jakab, National Air and Space Museum 

(NASM) Associate Director 

Pherabe Kolb, Office of Communications and 

External Affairs Associate Director of Strategic 

Communications

John Kress, Consortia for Understanding and 

Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet Director

Ramiro Matos, NMAI Curator

Ann McMullen, NMAI Curator

Anthony Wallace, NASM Museum Technician

William Wcislo, Smithsonian Tropical Research 

Institute Acting Director and Insect/Plant Ecology 

Scientist 

1 The Chancellor, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., participated in the afternoon session.

2 Dr. Coddington, Dr. Fleisher, Mr. Gover, Mr. Jakab, Ms. Kolbe, Dr. Kress, Mr. Matos, Ms. McMullen, Mr. Wallace, and Dr. Wcislo 

participated in special presentations to the Board.
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MORNING SESSION

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The meeting of the Board of Regents began with an executive session. The executive 

session was called to order by Board Chair France Córdova at 8:30 a.m. and was

adjourned at about 8:55 a.m.

REPORT OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR

Introductory Remarks Board Chair France Córdova called the open session to order at 9:05 a.m. She 

welcomed Regent Nominee John Fahey, who observed the meeting. Under Secretary 

for Science Eva Pell, who recently announced her retirement, was thanked for her 

contributions to the Smithsonian. The meeting was the last to be chaired by Dr. 

Córdova, and she thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as its Chair. John 

McCarter will serve as Board Chair for the remainder of the calendar year 2014 term.

Actions Between Meetings Dr. Córdova reported on actions taken by the Executive Committee on behalf of the 

Board since its October 2013 meeting. Pursuant to the Board of Regents’ Ethics 

Guidelines, the Executive Committee approved a proposed loan by Regent David 

Rubenstein of the Bay Psalm Book, one of the first books printed in the United States,

to the National Museum of American History and Smithsonian Institution Libraries. 

The committee also approved reappointments to the Advisory Board of the 

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and affirmed the fiscal year 2014 

Smithsonian Institution goals and strategic initiatives.

Regents’ Self-Assessment Overall, the results of the 2013 Regents’ self-assessment were very positive. The 

Regents discussed, among other things, the amount of time devoted to committee 

work, communications between meetings, meeting deliberations, and the stylistic 

treatment of meeting minutes. Interest was expressed in scheduling special meetings 

with the Congressional Regents. Better data on museum visitation and visitor 

demographics was requested. Director of Communications and External Affairs 

Evelyn Lieberman reported that the new Director of Visitor Services will soon conduct 

analytic surveys designed to collect more precise visitation data.

Minutes of the October 21, 

2013, Board Meeting 

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the draft minutes of the October 21, 2013, 

Board meeting were approved.

See attached Action 2014.01.03 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

Inspector General Search The search process for the next Inspector General is under way. First-round 

interviews will occur in February 2014. 
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REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

News Around the 

Smithsonian

The Secretary updated the Board on recent Smithsonian news, activities, and 

initiatives that have occurred since the October 2013 Regents’ meeting. He 

commented on visits to museums, cultural centers, and donors that he made on 

behalf of the Smithsonian. Among other sites, the Secretary visited the Chickasaw 

and Choctaw nations, the 9/11 museum under development in New York City, 

and Smithsonian American Art Museum Commissioner Emeritus James Dicke’s 

home in New Bremen, Ohio. The Secretary will join the Smithsonian National 

Board (SNB) for its spring 2014 meeting in Hawaii, where members will study 

Smithsonian research, facilities, operations, collaborations, and affiliate programs. 

He also reported the following:

 The Secretary, Dr. Pell, and National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) Sant 

Director Kirk Johnson testified on Smithsonian science before the House 

Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee;

 Panda cub Bao Bao was named following an online vote by over 123,000 

participants;

 The NMNH Q?rius education center opened;

 Over 2,500 educators attended the annual Smithsonian Teachers Night, which 

was supported by Target;

 The Smithsonian was ranked second out of 23 “Best Places to Work” among 

mid-sized Federal agencies;

 The Smithsonian was named one of “50 Great Places to Work” by 

Washingtonian magazine;

 National Air and Space Museum’s (NASM) Udvar-Hazy Center held a 10th 

anniversary celebration;

 The search for two new unit directors is nearly complete; 

 The development of a Smithsonian Protection of Minors Policy is progressing;

 The Smithsonian X 3D Conference generated significant media attention; and

 The Smithsonian’s Emerging Leaders Development Program launched.

Federal Budget The fiscal year 2014 Federal budget, which includes $805 million for the Smithsonian, 

was passed by the Congress and signed by the President. It will allow the Institution 

to avoid staff furloughs and includes funding for a 1 percent increase in salaries;

financial support for the construction and staffing of the National Museum of African 

American History and Culture (NMAAHC); and $4.4 million for the Smithsonian’s 

facilities maintenance, among other things. Funding levels for overall facilities 

maintenance and capital renewal, however, remain below industry standards. 

Trust Budget Progress against the fiscal year 2014 fundraising goal is steady, and fundraising 

during December 2013 was especially strong. Preliminary results reflect 

approximately $40 million in funds raised in the first quarter. Progress continues 

apace with the Smithsonian Campaign. The public launch of the campaign will be 

in October 2014.

The Endowment’s calendar year-to-date performance is 14.3 percent against the 

policy benchmark of 10.5 percent. Total assets stand at $1,221.8 million.
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Net gain from Smithsonian Enterprises activities grew more than 10 percent 

during fiscal year 2013. The average value of Smithsonian holiday catalog orders

increased by over 15 percent. The number of Smithsonian Channel subscribers 

increased by 14 million over the last two years.

Digital Action Agenda The Smithsonian’s digital capabilities are rapidly expanding and the in-person 

visitor experience is being enhanced with digital tools. Both National Air and 

Space museums now have Wi-Fi, courtesy of the museum’s advisory board, and 

plans are in place to install Wi-Fi in all Smithsonian museums. The digitization of 

the collections is advancing, as are efforts to facilitate searches for digital content. 

About 2,000 digital volunteers are supporting the transcription center’s efforts to 

digitize handwritten content. The three Presidential Innovation Fellows who 

provided critical support for the Digital Action Agenda completed their six-month 

assignments in December 2013. The new Internet-2 10GB connection has been 

implemented.

Education At a December 2013 event cohosted by the Smithsonian Science Education Center 

(SSEC), JP Morgan announced that it would be making $250 million in grants over 

five years to support workforce development initiatives. The SSEC will be 

applying for a $1 million grant. Assistant Secretary for Education and Access 

Claudine K. Brown has worked with SSEC Board Chair Kristin Richardson and staff 

to launch the privately funded Colorado LASER initiative, which will advance STEM 

education for about 4,000 students.

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service was selected by Lucasfilm to 

tour its collection of costumes, accessories, and fashion drawings from the six Star 

Wars films.

The University of Washington’s Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington, became 

the 184th museum to join Smithsonian Affiliates. Over $5 million in Youth Access 

Grants have been awarded, and Smithsonian units raised the equivalent in 

matching funds.

Branding The 2013 paid media campaign resulted in nearly 200 million impressions. There 

were about 75,000 unique visits to the Seriously Amazing site during a six-week 

period, mostly through mobile devices. 

Awards The 2013 Secretary’s Awards for Excellence recognized contributions from several 

Smithsonian employees. “Contributions to the Digital Smithsonian” is a new 

award category. 

Four Smithsonian scientists received the distinction of Fellow by the American 

Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); a total of 47 Smithsonian 

scientists are AAAS Fellows. NASM Geologist Ross Irwin received a Presidential 

Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers; he is the third Smithsonian 

scientist to receive this award. NMNH Curator of Fishes Lynne R. Parenti received 

the 2013 Robert H. Gibbs Jr. Memorial Award by the American Society of 

Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
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Personnel Jeanne O’Toole is the new Director of the Office of Protection Services. She 

previously worked for the National Park Service.

Construction The Secretary discussed major construction projects. The design of “corona” 

screen wall panels for the exterior of NMAAHC is under way. The Smithsonian 

will review corona design options with the Commission of Fine Arts in February 

2014. The construction of the Arts and Industries Building roof is complete. Led 

by Facilities Committee Chair Robert Kogod, the ad hoc committee on the campus 

master plan is working closely with staff and Danish architectural firm Bjarke 

Ingels Group (BIG) on the plan’s rationalization of building space on the south 

Mall campus.

Collections Kraft Foods donated an early 20th-century cast-iron Mr. Peanut figure to the 

National Museum of American History.

Discussion The Regents discussed the success of the Presidential Innovation Fellows 

program. Private support extended some of the Fellows’ work with the 

Smithsonian. The Smithsonian will compete should the program be offered again.

FINANCIAL DASHBOARD

Revenues Under Secretary for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer Al Horvath 

updated the Regents on the Smithsonian’s financial status during the first quarter of 

fiscal year 2014. Two issues impacted the Smithsonian’s financial performance in the 

first quarter: the 16-day shutdown of the Federal government and the general state 

of uncertainty about the fiscal year 2014 Federal appropriation. Trust revenues also 

were impacted by these issues.

Fundraising for the Smithsonian Campaign reached about 58 percent of the campaign 

working goal with 45 percent of the fundraising timeline elapsed. Reflecting the 

budgetary uncertainty in other Federal agencies, awards from new government 

grants and contracts totaled $21 million, down from the prior year. Smithsonian 

Enterprises (SE) net income was directly impacted by the shutdown of Smithsonian 

museums and related revenue-generating activities: net income totaling $3.4 million 

was below budget and prior year totals. However, SE revenues were strong in 

December 2013. Overall expenses were below budget in the first quarter, reflecting 

budgetary uncertainty.

Fiscal Year 2014 Federal 

Appropriation

The final fiscal year 2014 appropriation of $805 million is $30 million above the fiscal 

year 2013 post-sequestration appropriation. It includes $647 million for Salaries and 

Expenses and $158 million for Facilities Capital. While better than forecast in summer 

2013, the fiscal year 2014 appropriation does not return the Smithsonian to presequestration levels. Incremental funding was received for NMAAHC operations; 

digitization of the collections; collections care, including animal care; and the 1 

percent increase in Federal salaries. Capital funding was included for NMAAHC 

facilities capital. Standing at $103 million, funding for basic facilities capital is well 

below the annual planning target of $150 million.
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Fiscal Year 2015 Federal 

Budget

The fiscal year 2015 Federal budget is in the passback process. An overall funding 

level has been established by Congress. The Smithsonian will submit its fiscal year 

2015 Federal budget request to Congress in March 2014. 

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

Finance Committee Chair David Rubenstein provided the committee’s report. During

its January 14, 2014, meeting, the committee discussed the fiscal year 2014 first 

quarter results, the fiscal year 2014 Federal appropriation, and the status of SE new 

initiatives. The committee also reviewed the Board-approved issuance of $100 

million in bonds ($50 million long-term fixed rate, $50 million short-term variable

rate) to support Trust-funded capital projects currently in progress. Moody’s and 

Standard and Poor’s reaffirmed the Smithsonian’s AAA credit rating. 

Water issues have increased NMAAHC construction costs from $500 million to $540 

million; the increase will be shared evenly between private and Federal monies. The 

Board discussed the challenge of fundraising for new museums, particularly those 

with a specific focus; the impact of the recession on NMAAHC fundraising; and the 

effect of fundraising for construction on the development of a museum’s endowment.

REPORT OF THE INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Investment Committee Vice Chair Steve Case presented the Investment Committee 

report on behalf of Committee Chair David Silfen. The 12-month trailing return on the 

Endowment was 12.6 percent versus the policy benchmark of 8.0 percent. Three-, 

five-, and 10-year returns also were strong. The Endowment ended fiscal year 2013 

with assets of $1.17 billion.

REPORT OF THE ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Update on the Smithsonian 

Campaign

Advancement Committee member David Rubenstein provided the committee report 

on behalf of Committee Chair and Regent Emeritus Alan Spoon. During its January 16, 

2014, meeting, the committee analyzed the working campaign goal for the 

Smithsonian and reviewed the fundraising goals for the six largest Smithsonian 

museums. 

The public launch of the campaign is scheduled for October 2014. The Smithsonian 

hired a firm to assist in the development of launch activities. The committee, staff, 

and a consultant are working on the development of a campaign honorary committee 

comprised of 20–30 renowned Americans.

Under Secretary for Science Eva Pell updated the committee on fundraising for the 

Giant Magellan Telescope. The extent of the Smithsonian’s role in the international 

initiative will depend upon its ability to raise $80 million.
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Fundraising progress on the Smithsonian Campaign is strong. A meeting for campaign 

leadership is scheduled for May 2014. Members will discuss a campaign goal, in 

preparation for a recommendation to the full Board of Regents at its June 2014 

meeting.

Gift Actions Director of Advancement and Philanthropic Giving Virginia Clark reviewed notable 

gifts that reflect increased support for the Smithsonian. She also presented three 

proposed actions for the Board’s approval. Two addressed the naming of facilities 

and one supported the creation of a quasi-endowment. Upon motion duly made and 

seconded, the Board approved one naming and the establishment of a quasiendowment. It agreed to reconsider the third proposed action during the afternoon 

session. 

See attached Actions 2014.01.05–2014.01.06 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, 

Appendix A).

A question was raised about an action, a proposed permanent naming of a gallery in

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, when it is the stated policy of the 

Smithsonian to generally not provide the naming of Smithsonian facilities beyond a 

20-year period or until the next major renovation, whichever occurs last. 

Subsequent to further discussion in the afternoon session, the Regents approved the 

naming in this instance because of four mitigating factors:

1. The name on the gallery would cease if the purpose currently planned for the 

gallery’s use changes;

2. The name on the gallery would cease if the gallery is destroyed or otherwise 

deconstructed;

3. The museum was not built with the use of any Federal funds; and

4. The cost of renovating this gallery will be borne 100 percent by the gift.

The Regents also asked the Advancement Committee to review again its naming 

policies and report back to the Regents on how the Smithsonian’s naming policy can 

be better stated and communicated, and can better reflect possible public concerns 

about permanent naming gifts when Federal funds are also involved in the area in 

which a gift is provided.

See attached Action 2014.01.04 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

SERIOUSLY AMAZING

Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture Richard Kurin introduced two objects 

from the Smithsonian collections. The objects were selected to recognize the tenure

of Board Chair France Córdova and the forthcoming retirement of Under Secretary for 

Science Eva Pell. NASM Associate Director Peter Jakab, with assistance from Museum 

Technician Anthony Wallace, displayed a telescope used during Operation 

Moonwatch, a citizen science program created by the Smithsonian Astrophysical 

Observatory in 1956. National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Director Kevin 

Gover introduced NMAI curators Ann McMullen and Ramiro Matos, who presented a 
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75-foot-long gourd and twine acoustic transmission device created in the Chimu 

empire in northern Peru. The device dates to approximately the 12th–13th century. 

Curators speculate that the device worked like a primitive telephone, similar to tin 

can and string contraptions constructed by children.

REPORT OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE

Facilities Committee Chair Robert Kogod provided the committee’s report. The 

Smithsonian’s facilities capital and maintenance program continues to be 

underfunded. According to industry standards, the Smithsonian should invest $150 

million on facilities capital and $100 million on facilities maintenance on an annual 

basis; current expenditures, however, total just over $100 million and $69 million, 

respectively. 

A presentation on the South Mall Campus Master Plan will be provided to the Board 

at its April 2014 meeting. The plan will address access and structural issues in the 

south Mall campus facilities, which include the Arts and Industries Building, the 

Castle, the Quadrangle, the Enid A. Haupt Garden, the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the 

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the National Museum of African Art. 

Architectural firm BIG is contributing to the effort. The long-term schedule of the 

master plan aligns with the Smithsonian’s external leasing commitments.

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

Strategic Planning and Programs Committee Chair Shirley Ann Jackson reported that 

the committee met on January 17, 2014. It reviewed the exhibition calendar and 

discussed a draft public document that reflects the Regents’ decision to approve an 

extension of the strategic plan to 2017. A final draft will be presented for the 

Regents’ review at a future Board meeting. The committee also discussed plans for 

the temporary use of the Arts and Industries Building (AIB). 

Dr. Jackson reminded the Board that legislation pending in Congress names the 

building as the preferred site for a future Smithsonian American Latino Museum. 

Because the lead time for the construction of a new museum is anticipated to take at 

least seven years, staff explored ideas for the building’s interim use, including the 

creation of an innovation space. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office was signed to support the development of 

temporary exhibitions and programming dedicated to the concepts of innovation and 

entrepreneurship. Additional rehabilitation work on the building would be required 

for its interim use.

The Board reviewed three options for the building’s interim use: (1) keep the building 

closed for regular use, (2) reopen a portion of the building, or (3) fully develop an 

innovation space. Secretary Clough explained that consideration of each option was 

informed by anticipated operating costs, possible fundraising opportunities, and 

potential revenues. Uncertainty about the timeframe for the building’s interim use 
9

and the ability to secure adequate funding, both private and Federal, were noted as

two overarching challenges. Benefits and risks associated with each option were 

discussed, as well as the potential impact on the MOU with the U.S. Patent and 

Trademark Office. Maintaining the building in its current state (option one) will 

require an investment of $3.6 million. Options two and three would require 

investments of, respectively, $11.6 million and $17.1 million. 

The Regents discussed the importance of the historic building—the first Smithsonian 

museum established to celebrate American innovation. The Board agreed that 

additional Federal appropriations would be necessary to support the building’s 

interim use. The congressional Regents commented on the intense competition for 

Federal resources. 

The Board was unanimous in its desire to see the building occupied. It also agreed, 

however, with management’s conclusion that the cost of rehabilitating AIB for public 

use, as well as operating it for an interim period of indeterminate length, exceeded 

available funding sources at this time.

REPORT OF THE OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Director of the Office of General Relations Nell Payne offered a few comments in 

addition to the report included in the meeting materials. Regent Nominee John Fahey 

had a successful meeting with members of the Committee on House Administration, 

and Regent Nominee Risa Lavizzo-Mourey will soon meet with the Committee. There 

have been briefings with the Smithsonian’s primary House and Senate oversight 

appropriations committees regarding the new budget and timeline for the 

development of NMAAHC. The support of former SNB Chair Paul Neely provided for 

the distribution of Under Secretary Richard Kurin’s book The History of America in 101 

Objects to all 535 members of the House and Senate. Silver replicas of the 

Congressional Gold Medal were awarded to surviving Native American code talkers or 

their relatives in a ceremony at NMAI. 

REPORT OF THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL BOARD

SNB Chair Sako Fisher reported on the activities of the Smithsonian’s largest advisory 

board. SNB members are committed to the advisory board’s mission, which is to 

understand and advocate for the Smithsonian. In fulfillment of its mission, the SNB’s 

spring 2014 trip will be held in Hawaii, where members will focus on all four Grand 

Challenges by touring the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Submillimeter 

Array atop Mauna Kea; visiting the Pacific Aviation Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, 

and the Bishop Museum; meeting with scientists and researchers; and seeing the 

scientific research conducted by Smithsonian staff. The January 2015 meeting will be 

held in New York City. SNB members continue to be strong ambassadors for the 

Smithsonian, as well as provide significant financial support. The SNB exceeded its 

fiscal year 2013 board annual giving goal of $1.3 million by $63,000. 
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LUNCHEON PRESENTATION: THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

The Regents’ working lunch included a presentation by National Portrait Gallery (NPG) 

Director Kim Sajet. Ms. Sajet, who joined the Smithsonian in 2013, discussed the 

history of portraiture and its ability to reflect and change the world. The Gallery 

aspires to increase American’s knowledge of history, and its new strategic plan 

focuses on teachers, teenagers, and access. The NPG has begun to outline a 

rebranding campaign, and a new website is under development. 

Ms. Sajet reviewed several exhibitions currently on view at the Gallery, including 

American Cool and Dancing the Dream, and highlighted several NPG travelling 

exhibitions. She commented on the importance of the NPG Commission and said she 

would welcome the Regents’ suggestions of strong candidates to join the group.

Insufficient funding is one of the challenges facing the NPG, particularly given an 

endowment of just under $3 million. Funding for additional positions, including for 

conservators and a curator of Latino Art, is sought to support the Gallery’s ability to 

expand and maintain a collection that reflects the diversity of the American 

population and experience. Another key challenge is digitizing the NPG collection: 

only 25 percent has been digitized to date, and additional funding is needed to help 

the Gallery digitize the remainder and achieve its goal of reaching international 

audiences. 
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AFTERNOON SESSION

The Chancellor called the afternoon session to order at 1:24 p.m.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS: BIOGENOMICS

Under Secretary for Science Eva Pell led a panel presentation on a new paninstitutional initiative in biodiversity genomics, called BioGenomics, which supports

the Grand Challenge “Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet.” Joining Dr. 

Pell was Dr. John Kress, director of the Consortia for Understanding and Sustaining a 

Biodiverse Planet; Dr. Jonathan Coddington, associate director for research and 

collections at NMNH; Dr. William Wcislo, acting director at the Smithsonian Tropical 

Research Institute (STRI) and insect and plant ecology scientist; and Dr. Robert 

Fleischer, conservation and evolutionary geneticist with the National Zoological Park 

and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (NZP/SCBI).

Dr. Pell provided an overview of Smithsonian initiatives that have been launched to 

help understand and sustain a biodiverse planet: Global Earth Observatories, 

Conservation and Sustainability, and BioGenomics. Dr. Kress then gave an 

introduction to genomics and explained why, together, the Smithsonian’s collections, 

scientists, partnerships, and power to convene make it unique in its ability to develop 

an institute for BioGenomics. Dr. Coddington discussed the natural history collections 

in the context of genomics. He commented on NMNH’s Global Genome Initiative, the 

goal of which is to develop and maintain a collection of genomic-grade tissue that 

parallels the Smithsonian’s traditional biological collections. The genomic-grade 

tissue collection will form the core of a Smithsonian institute for BioGenomics. Dr. 

Coddington noted the strength of Smithsonian facilities, including the largest 

biorepository on Earth (with the capacity to hold 4–5million specimens) and 

laboratories that support genomic analyses.

Drs. Wcislo and Fleischer provided exemplars of current Smithsonian genomic 

projects that demonstrate the types of projects supported by the Smithsonian’s 

unique blend of collections, field facilities, and research. Dr. Wcislo spoke about his 

research studying the interaction between leaf cutter ants, plants, and fungi, and how 

genomics has helped researchers understand their relationship. Dr. Fleischer

discussed how genomic analyses of NMNH collections, coupled with specimens 

derived from field research, are unraveling the mystery surrounding the Tasmanian 

Devil and its risk of extinction due to an infectious cancer.

Together, the presenters demonstrated why the Smithsonian is uniquely positioned in 

the world to develop an institute for BioGenomics. They cited genomic projects 

currently under way at the Smithsonian, and demonstrated how the wealth of 

knowledge, collections, and field facilities provided by the NMNH, STRI, NZP/SCBI, and 

the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center can collectively answer seminal 

questions regarding the origins of life, evolution, ecosystem function, and 

environmental sustainability and conservation.
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REPORT OF THE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Governance and Nominating Committee member Steve Case provided the 

committee’s report. He updated the Board on the status of the confirmation hearings 

for Regent nominees John Fahey and Risa Lavizzo-Mourey. If approved by the 

Congress, President Barack Obama’s proposed appointment of Dr. Córdova as 

director of the National Science Foundation would result in a vacancy on the Board of 

Regents.

Advisory Board 

Appointments

Upon motion duly made and seconded, proposed appointments and reappointments 

to nine Smithsonian advisory boards were approved en banc.

See attached Actions 2014.01.07–2014.01.15 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, 

Appendix A).

Committee Composition The Governance and Nominating Committee recommended that, in addition to the 

Executive Committee, only Regents serve on Board committees with fiduciary-like 

responsibilities to the Smithsonian. In addition to the Executive Committee, the 

committees would include the Audit and Review Committee, the Compensation and 

Human Resources Committee, and the Governance and Nominating Committee. 

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board affirmed the principle that 

members of these committees be selected from the Board of Regents.

See attached Action 2014.01.16 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

2014 Committee and 

Chairmanship Assignments

Upon motion duly made and seconded, a proposed slate of Regents’ committee 

chairmanships and member assignments for 2014 was approved for the Chancellor’s 

appointment.

See attached Action 2014.01.17 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

Recognitions The Regents recognized former Chief of Staff to the Regents John K. Lapiana and 

outgoing Board and Executive Committee Chair France Córdova for their service on 

behalf of the Board and the Smithsonian. The aforementioned motion to accept the 

terms of a proposed gift to Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design museum was 

approved. The Board then adjourned for an executive session at 2:33 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND HUMAN 

RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Compensation and Human Resources Committee Chair Barbara Barrett provided the 

committee’s report. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following motion 

was approved. 

See attached Action 2014.01.18 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

Ambassador Barrett presented the committee’s compensation recommendation for 
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the Secretary. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the committee’s 

recommendation was approved.

See attached Action 2014.01.19 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

ADJOURNMENT

Dr. Córdova thanked the Regents for their participation. The executive session 

adjourned at about 3:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

G. Wayne Clough

Secretary
APPENDIX A: ACTIONS OF THE

JANUARY 27, 2014, MEETING OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the minutes of the October 21, 2013, meeting of 

the Board of Regents. [2014.01.03]

VOTED that the Board of Regents recognizes the generosity of the Morton and Barbara Mandel 

Foundation to Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and names the Carnegie Mansion’s 

third-floor gallery the Barbara and Morton Mandel Design Gallery in perpetuity, and approves 

the creation of an endowment to support the gallery and its future maintenance and 

renovation. [2014.01.04]

VOTED that the Board of Regents recognizes the generosity of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation 

to the National Museum of American History and names the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object 

Project for 20 years or until the next major renovation of the space, whichever occurs last. 

[2014.01.05]

VOTED that the Board of Regents creates a quasi-endowment for the benefit of the 

Smithsonian American Art Museum to support the preservation of Nam June Paik’s Megatron 

Matrix and other works by the artist in the museum’s collection and archives. Further, the 

Board authorizes the transfer of the funds identified for this purpose. [2014.01.06]

VOTED that the Board of Regents reappoints Helen W. Drutt English to the Board of Trustees of 

the Archives of American Art for a three-year term effective February 1, 2014. [2014.01.07]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Dawn McCall, Ana Maria Ochoa, and George 

Papagiannis to the Advisory Council of the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage for threeyear terms effective immediately. [2014.01.08]

VOTED that the Board of Regents reappoints Elizabeth Ainslie, Kurt Andersen, Michael R. 

Francis, Alice Gottesman, Paul Herzan, John Maeda, and Enid Morse to the Board of Trustees of 

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum for three-year terms effective immediately. 

[2014.01.09]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Frederico Curado and Ross Perot Jr. to the Board of 

the National Air and Space Museum for three-year terms effective immediately. [2014.01.10]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Steven Fink and Sue Van to the Advisory Board of 

the National Museum of American History for three-year terms effective immediately. 

[2014.01.11]
2

VOTED that the Board of Regents reappoints Scott Edwards and Jorge Soberón to the Board of 

the National Museum of Natural History for three-year terms effective immediately. 

[2014.01.12]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Rose Carter, Azita Raji, and Paul Stern and 

reappoints Linda Ferber and Steven Hamp to the Commission of the National Portrait Gallery, 

all for four-year terms effective immediately. [2014.01.13]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Harold M. Brierley, Charles Francis, and Thomas E. 

Lovejoy and reappoints Susan Mars to the Advisory Board of the National Zoological Park for 

three-year terms effective immediately. [2014.01.14]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Gabrielle Bekink and reappoints Aida Alvarez and 

John Kotelly to the Commission of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, all for four-year 

terms effective immediately. [2014.01.15]

VOTED that the Board of Regents affirms the principle that members of the Governance and 

Nominating, Audit and Review, and Compensation and Human Resources Committees shall be 

selected from the Board of Regents. [2014.01.16]

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed committee chairmanships and 

member assignments for 2014 and requests that the Chancellor make the necessary 

appointments. [2014.01.17]

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the Compensation and Human Resources 

Committee’s compensation recommendations for senior executive positions. [2014.01.18]

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the Compensation and Human Resources 

Committee’s compensation recommendation for the Secretary. [2014.01.19]