MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 23, 2023, MEETING 

OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

ATTENDANCE

This scheduled meeting of the Board of Regents (“Board”) of the Smithsonian Institution (“Smithsonian”) was held on 

Monday, October 23, 2023. The Board conducted morning, afternoon, and executive sessions at the National 

Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. Board and Executive Committee Chair Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey 

welcomed Regents and staff and called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Participating were Regents:

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Chancellor1

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

Senator Gary Peters

Representative Garret Graves

Representative Doris Matsui

Representative Adrian Smith

Ambassador Barbara M. Barrett

Mr. John Fahey, Vice Chair

Mr. Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.

Mr. Michael Govan

Dr. Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, Chair

Mr. Michael Lynton

Ms. Denise O’Leary

Mr. Franklin D. Raines

Mr. Jorge Puente, Smithsonian National Board Chair

Mrs. Christine Udvar-Hazy, Advancement Committee Chair

Vice President Kamala D. Harris and Senator John Boozman were unable to attend the meeting.

Smithsonian and Regent staff present by invitation of the Board were: 

Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary

Greg Bettwy, Chief of Staff to the Secretary

Ellen Bottcher, Office of Representative Graves

Monique Chism, Under Secretary for Education

Ronald Cortez, Under Secretary for Administration

Monica Didiuk, Office of Representative Smith

Robert M. Dow, Jr., Counselor to the Chief Justice

Farleigh Earhart, Acting General Counsel

Kate Forester, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Regents 

Mallory Gianola, Special Assistant to the Regents 

(recorder)

Kevin Gover, Under Secretary for Museums and Culture

Rachelle Graves, Director of the Office of Government 

Relations

Becky Kobberod, Head of Digital Transformation2

Jeremy Marcus, Office of Representative Matsui

Julissa Marenco, Assistant Secretary for 

Communications and External Affairs and Chief 

Marketing Officer

Joan Mockeridge, Acting Inspector General

Meroë Park, Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating 

Officer

Robert J. Spiller, Assistant Secretary for Advancement 

Caitlyn Stephenson, Office of Senator Peters

Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research

Porter N. Wilkinson, Chief of Staff to the Regents 

Josh Yearsley, Office of Senator Cortez Masto

1 Participated in the afternoon business meeting only 2 Participated in the lunch program only
2

BUSINESS MEETING

Smithsonian Staff and 

Regent Liaison 

Transitions

Upcoming Special 

Events

Regents’ Public Forum

Executive Committee 

Approvals

Consent Agenda

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Board and Executive Committee Chair Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey began her report by 

welcoming Rachelle Graves, the new Director of the Office of Government 

Relations to her first Regents’ meeting. Rachelle joined the Smithsonian on July 

17. Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey also welcomed Joan Mockeridge, who is serving as the 

Acting Inspector General following the retirement of Cathy Helm on September 1, 

2023. She then informed the Board that Andy Flick, Director of Legislative Affairs

for the Office of the Vice President has been appointed the new Smithsonian 

Liaison for the Vice President.

Next, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey updated the Board on upcoming special events, 

including the first event in the CANDID: Smithsonian Conversations dinner series, 

supported by donor Kenneth C. Griffin, to be held on November 2 at the Arts and 

Industries Building. She also reminded the Board about the National Postal 

Museum’s annual gala on November 4 and the Oprah Winfrey Portrait Unveiling 

in the Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery on December 13.

Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey then previewed the Regents’ annual public forum. The Board 

will host the public forum virtually on December 19. The 2023 public forum will 

provide an opportunity to introduce the new members of the Executive 

Committee and will focus on key matters at the Smithsonian.

To conclude her report, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey briefed the Board on six actions taken

by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Board, pursuant to Board Bylaw

3.01, between the June and October Board meetings. The Executive Committee

approved the naming of a space at the National Air and Space Museum. Dr. 

Lavizzo-Mourey noted that the Executive Committee’s approval was requested on 

behalf of the Board to accommodate the timing of related public announcements. 

The Executive Committee also approved appointments or reappointments to 11

Smithsonian Institution Advisory Boards, and proposed amendments to the 

bylaws of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Advisory Board and the

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Advisory Board to accommodate

appointment terms and mitigate delays in onboarding new advisory board 

members. The Executive Committee also approved two budget actions: (i) the 

Smithsonian’s fiscal year 2024 Federal and Trust Consolidated Budget when 

signed into law by the President, and (ii) the Smithsonian’s budget request for 

appropriated funds for fiscal year 2025 for presentation to the Office of 

Management and Budget. Both required approval prior to the October 23, 2023, 

Board meeting. 

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

The Consent Agenda (“Agenda”) was presented for the Board’s consideration. 

Action items listed on the October 23, 2023, Agenda included: the approval of
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Questions on Written 

Committee Reports

Written Report of the 

Audit and Review

Committee

Written Report of the 

Finance Committee

minutes from the June 12, 2023, Regents’ meeting; the appointment and

reappointment of candidates to six (6) Smithsonian Advisory Boards; 

amendments to the bylaws of the Smithsonian American Art Museum 

Commission, Smithsonian National Board, and Smithsonian Institution Traveling 

Exhibition Service and Smithsonian Affiliations Advisory Board; and gifts and 

naming recognitions. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to 

adopt the Agenda, constituting the approval of all action items listed therein. 

See attached Actions 2023.10.01 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

QUESTIONS ON WRITTEN COMMITTEE REPORTS

Next, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey provided an opportunity for Regent committee chairs 

and Smithsonian staff to answer questions on the written reports distributed in 

advance of the meeting by the Audit and Review Committee, Finance Committee, 

Investment Committee, and Office of Government Relations.

Written Report of the Audit and Review Committee

The Audit and Review Committee met on August 7, 2023. During the meeting, the 

Committee approved the filing of the fiscal year 2022 Forms 990 and 990-T with 

the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and approved the Smithsonian’s external

auditor, KPMG, performing audit and non-audit services related to the

preparation and submission of forms to the IRS. The Committee also reviewed

KPMG’s audit plan for fiscal year 2023, received an update on the Inspector

General’s activities, evaluated the progress of addressing identified OIG audit and 

financial statement recommendations, received an update on IT security 

programs, discussed work being conducted by the Internal Review Group, was 

briefed on the Smithsonian’s Enterprise Risk Management program, and 

discussed the annual conflict of interest reporting.

Written Report of the Finance Committee

The Finance Committee conducted a meeting on August 22, 2023. During the

meeting, the Committee reviewed and voted to recommend that the Executive 

Committee approve two motions on behalf of the full Board: (1) the fiscal year 

2024 federal and trust consolidated budget, and (2) the fiscal year 2025 federal 

budget for presentation to the Office of Management and Budget. The 

Committee also reviewed the fiscal year 2023 third quarter financial results, 

received an update on Smithsonian Enterprises operations, was briefed on the 

cash management and working capital investments policy, and received an 

update on the status of initiatives from the quasi-endowment draw. Revenues for 

the period totaled $1,496.0 million; expenses totaled $1,484.0 million; and net 

gain for the period was $11.9 million. The Finance Committee also performed its 

annual review of the Committee Charter. 
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Written Report of the 

Investment Committee

Written Report of the 

Office of Government 

Relations

Congressional Briefings

and Smithsonian 

Related Legislation

Congressional 

Engagement

Report of the 

Governance and 

Nominating Committee

Written Report of the Investment Committee

The Investment Committee met on June 21, 2023. During the meeting, the

Committee reviewed the Endowment’s portfolio covering asset allocation and 

public manager rankings; provided an update on the diversity, equity, and 

inclusion report; and reviewed external manager fees. The Smithsonian 

Endowment’s one-year return as of March 31, 2023, was -5.7% versus -2.8% for 

the policy benchmark. 

Written Report of the Office of Government Relations

The Office of Government Relations (“OGR”) reported that on September 30,

2023, a Continuing Resolution was signed into law, after being passed by the U.S.

Senate and House of Representatives. The measure funds the Smithsonian

Institution at current, fiscal year 2023 funding levels through November 17, 2023.

In addition, OGR reported on Congressional briefings and Smithsonian related

legislation. The Office of Government Relations and National Zoological Park and 

Conservation Biology Institute Director Brandie Smith briefed a variety of 

congressional offices on the plans for returning the Giant Pandas to China. The 

Smithsonian also organized a tour of the Museum Support Center and briefing on 

the Pod 6 collections storage project for staff of the Senate Rules and House 

Administration Committees. OGR also hosted a variety of meetings and briefings

to educate and inform Members about the Smithsonian’s site selection process, 

and the pending need for congressional action to facilitate final site selection of 

the two new Smithsonian museums.

The Office of Government Relations continues its congressional engagement, 

hosting and participating in several programs and events, most prominently on 

June 30, OGR hosted a Congressional Staff Picnic to celebrate the opening of the 

Folklife Festival. On September 21, OGR also hosted its annual Congressional 

Night at the National Museum of the American Indian and welcomed

approximately 800 Congressional staff.

 

REPORT OF THE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. gave 

the Committee’s report. He presented three action items for the Board’s 

consideration: (i) proposed amendments to the Audit and Review Committee 

Charter, (ii) appointments and reappointments to the National Museum of the 

American Latino Board of Trustees, and (iii) an emeritus appointment to the 

Smithsonian American Art Museum Commission. He also led a discussion on the 

Asian Pacific American Center Advisory Board and Investment Committee 

membership.
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Proposed Amendments 

to the Audit and Review 

Committee Charter

National Museum of the

American Latino Board 

of Trustees 

Appointments and 

Reappointments

Smithsonian American 

Art Museum

Commission Emeritus 

Appointment

Asian Pacific American 

Center Advisory Board

Investment Committee 

Membership

Mr. Ferguson introduced the first action item: proposed amendments to the 

Audit and Review Committee Charter. The proposed Charter amendments reflect 

current practices and include updates to language that would ensure consistency 

between the Charter, the Bylaws of the Board of Regents, and the Inspector 

General Act. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to approve 

the proposed amendments to the Audit and Review Committee Charter.

See attached Actions 2023.10.02 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

Next, Mr. Ferguson presented three motions related to proposed appointments 

and reappointments to the National Museum of the American Latino Board of 

Trustees. Mr. Ferguson noted that in addition to the appointment of three (3) 

new candidates, the museum’s Board of Trustees is requesting retroactive 

staggered reappointments of eight (8) inaugural members. The retroactive 

reappointments would maintain the three-year terms established by the bylaws 

and not increase the individuals' total years of service, while retaining the 

staggered terms for members appointed to the initial Board of Trustees. Upon 

motions duly made and seconded, the Board voted to approve the appointments 

and reappointments to the NMAL Board of Trustees.

See attached Actions 2023.10.03, 2023.10.04, and 2023.10.05 (Minutes of the 

Board of Regents, Appendix A).

Mr. Ferguson presented the final action item: the appointment of Dorothy Tapper 

Goldman as an emeritus member of the Commission of the Smithsonian 

American Art Museum (“SAAM”). Mr. Ferguson noted that the emeritus 

appointment process was underway at the time of Ms. Goldman’s death and by 

voting to appoint the emeritus member of the SAAM Commission, the Board 

would be voting to approve an exceptional posthumous emeritus appointment. 

Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to approve the

appointment.

See attached Action 2023.10.06 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

Next, the Board discussed membership matters related to the Smithsonian’s 

Asian Pacific American Center and articulated an approach to avoid conflicts of 

interests by members wishing to serve on non-Smithsonian boards supporting the 

development of a potential Asian Pacific American museum. 

To conclude, the Board of Regents discussed Investment Committee membership, 

specifically the appointment of the Chair of the Board as a nonvoting, ex officio 

member of the Investment Committee. As Chair of the Governance and 

Nominating Committee and Vice Chair of the Investment Committee, Mr. 

Ferguson noted that given the number of non-Regent committee members on the 

Investment Committee the addition of the Chair as another Regent member

would strengthen communication between the Board of Regents and the 

Investment Committee.
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Report of the 

Advancement 

Committee

Report of the Facilities 

Committee

Report of the Secretary

American Federation of 

Government Employees 

REPORT OF THE ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Chair of the Advancement Committee Christine Udvar-Hazy gave the Committee’s 

report and briefed the Board on proposed policy updates intended to mitigate 

reputational risk arising from philanthropic relationships, including updated 

guidelines for assessing reputational risk and new language in gift agreements 

that recognizes the Smithsonian's right to remove naming recognitions in the rare 

case when a donor’s behavior or actions could potentially compromise public 

trust in the Smithsonian. Mrs. Udvar-Hazy informed the Board that the Office of 

Advancement and Office of the General Counsel proposed the revisions after 

benchmarking best practices of peer organizations.

REPORT OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE

Facilities Committee Chair John Fahey presented the Committee’s report. The 

Board was asked to review a request to execute a five-year lease extension at the 

Victor Building, 750 9th Street NW, Washington DC. Since 2005, the Smithsonian 

has leased approximately 133,984 rentable square feet of administrative office, 

collections, and storage space for continued occupancy by the Archives of 

American Art, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and 

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. Mr. Fahey informed the Board this would 

extend the existing five-year lease covering the same square footage, which 

expires on October 31, 2025, and result in a savings of approximately $1.3 million 

on rental rates for the remainder of the current lease agreement. Upon motion 

duly made and seconded, the Board voted to approve the proposed five-year 

lease extension.

See attached Actions 2023.10.07 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

Secretary Bunch then updated the Board on the state of the Smithsonian. The 

update focused on topics that are advancing the Institution’s reach, relevance, 

and impact.

The Secretary first updated the Board on the Smithsonian’s relationship with the 

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE”), which is the largest 

federal employee union representing 750,000 federal and D.C. government 

workers nationwide and overseas. The Smithsonian has worked to enhance

senior-level engagement with the Union to address areas of concern. Secretary 

Bunch informed the Board that AFGE recently held an election, and a new local 

chapter president has been installed and communication has continued to 

improve between Union leadership and Smithsonian management.
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Central Trust Budget

Recognition of Sheperd 

Doeleman

Recent Media Coverage

Smithsonian Visitation 

Numbers

Luncheon Program:

Artificial Intelligence

Next, the Secretary briefed the Board on the Central Trust budget, which was 

significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is projected to generate a 

surplus for the first time since fiscal year 2017. The Secretary attributed the 

surplus to earnings on short-term investments, increased Smithsonian Enterprises 

operations, and surpassing annual fundraising goals. The Board recognized Under 

Secretary Ron Cortez, President of Smithsonian Enterprises Carol LeBlanc, and 

Assistant Secretary for Advancement Rob Spiller for their joint efforts on this 

accomplishment.

Secretary Bunch also recognized Sheperd Doeleman, an Astrophysicist at the 

Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian. Dr. Doeleman is the sixteenth 

winner of the Georges Lemaître International Prize for his work leading the global 

team behind the Event Horizon Telescope that captured the historic, first-ever 

image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

The Secretary also updated the Board on recent and potential upcoming media 

coverage including the series of Washington Post articles regarding human 

remains in the Smithsonian’s collections. As part of the work of the Human 

Remains Task Force, the Smithsonian is exploring potential collaborations with 

peer institutions to help develop best practices for the U.S. and global museum 

community. The Secretary also shared that The Atlantic would be publishing his

article in December on the United States Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and 

Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau, which was 

created by Congress in 1865 to assist in the political and social reconstruction of 

post-war Southern states and to help formerly enslaved people make the 

transition from slavery to freedom and citizenship.

To conclude his report, Secretary Bunch asked Assistant Secretary for 

Communications and External Affairs and Chief Marketing Officer Julissa Marenco

to update the Board on Smithsonian visitation numbers. The Board reviewed 

monthly visit counts from January 2022 through September 2023, and discussed 

changes in visitation patterns after the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Marenco 

informed the Board that the Smithsonian has replaced attendance clicker 

counters with new screening technology to provide more accurate visitor 

numbers. Secretary Bunch also noted that the week surrounding the Thanksgiving 

holiday is traditionally one of the heaviest visitation days for the Smithsonian, and 

the Institution plans to utilize carryover funding to remain open to the public for 

the holiday week in the event of a government shutdown.

LUNCH: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

During lunch, Regents had an opportunity to converse with leaders on Artificial 

Intelligence (“AI”). The Secretary and Head of Digital Transformation Becky 

Kobberod led a discussion on AI as it relates to the Smithsonian and the 

Institution’s strategic initiatives. The discussion focused on research, education, 

the visitor experience, and other ways the Smithsonian can benefit from the use 

of AI using a thoughtful and strategic approach to the emerging technology. 
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Collections Storage and 

Space Planning

America250 and the 

Smithsonian

AFTERNOON SESSION

The Chancellor called the afternoon session to order at approximately 1:00 p.m.

and reviewed the remainder of the Board’s business agenda. 

COLLECTIONS STORAGE AND SPACE PLANNING

To begin the afternoon session, the Secretary and members of his leadership 

team led a discussion on the current and long-term goals and needs required for 

the stewardship of the Smithsonian’s unrivaled collections. The Secretary 

reminded the Board that pan-institutional management of the Smithsonian’s vast 

collections requires a strategic and pragmatic approach that includes assessing 

both objects and discrete collections, developing long-term funding plans, and 

prioritizing both when and how challenges will be addressed. Collections space 

must also provide secure, precisely maintained environmental conditions to 

safeguard irreplaceable objects, and must be designed to ensure access to the 

collections for experts and the public alike—now and in the future.

Under Secretary for Museums and Culture Kevin Gover and Under Secretary for 

Science and Research Ellen Stofan reviewed the current collections storage 

challenges and potential solutions, including more focused collecting, expanding

deaccessioning, expanding and expediting collection loans, and exploring 

opportunities to loan to entities outside of the museum community such as 

schools, community centers, and hospitals. The Board reviewed statistics from 

the Smithsonian’s current collections loan process. Dr. Stofan informed the Board 

that pan-Institutional committees are being established to identify opportunities 

and challenges to lending and deaccessioning collections items. The Smithsonian 

is also focusing on exploring more shared stewardship opportunities, expediting 

the returns of human remains, and enhancing digital accessibility.

AMERICA250 AND THE SMITHSONIAN

To conclude the open session, the Board had an opportunity to learn more about 

the Smithsonian’s plans for the 250th anniversary of the United States' founding 

to be recognized in 2026. Secretary Bunch emphasized that America250 presents 

the Smithsonian with possibilities to share the country’s story in ways that will 

inspire Americans. The Institution’s programming and events will focus on four 

pillars – Celebrate, Contemplate, Commemorate, and Commit. The Secretary also 

shared that the events fall under three main efforts – We the People, We the 

Community, and We Together. We the People will serve as the main initiative and

use AI to better link the 157 million objects in the Smithsonian’s collections to 

broad audiences. We the Community will center around regional programming 

and share Smithsonian content across the nation. We Together will focus on the 

power of convening, and includes the 2026 Folklife Festival, related programming 

at museums on the National Mall, and the culmination of the Smithsonian 

Campaign for Our Shared Future. The Board also brainstormed ideas to help 

America celebrate and reflect during these milestone events and programs, 
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Executive Session: 

Congressional Relations

Executive Session: Fiscal

Year 2023 Regents’ SelfAssessment 

Executive Session: 2024

Board Leadership

Elections

Executive Session: 

“Gatekeeper” Reports

Adjournment

especially across the nation and outside of Washington, D.C.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

The Board moved into an executive session at approximately 2:00 p.m. with the

Secretary, Smithsonian liaisons, and invited staff to discuss business and 

personnel matters, including the Smithsonian’s relationship with Congress.

The Board continued with a Regents-only executive session. Chair of the

Governance and Nominating Committee Roger Ferguson led the Board’s review 

of the Regents’ fiscal year 2023 self-assessment. It was determined that the 

current format is effective in helping the Board to evaluate its performance and 

identify priorities for the year ahead, and the self-assessment will be distributed 

to the Regents following the October meeting.

The Board then reviewed the Governance and Nominating Committee’s

recommendations for the 2024 Board leadership. The Board discussed the 

election of Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey as Chair, Barbara Barrett as Vice Chair, and 

Frank Raines as a member of the Executive Committee. As candidates under

consideration, Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey, Ambassador Barrett, and Mr. Raines recused 

themselves from the discussion and votes. Upon motions duly made and 

seconded, the Board voted to elect the proposed Chair, Vice Chair, and third 

member of the Executive Committee.

See attached Actions 2023.10.08, 2023.10.09, and 2023.10.10 (Minutes of the 

Board of Regents, Appendix A).

The Board concluded the October 23, 2023, meeting with an opportunity to hear

from each of the Smithsonian’s Gatekeepers, including the Secretary, Under 

Secretary for Administration, Acting General Counsel, and Acting Inspector 

General.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at

approximately 2:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lonnie G. Bunch, III

Secretary
APPENDIX A: ACTIONS OF THE

OCTOBER 23, 2023, MEETING OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

VOTED that the Board of Regents adopts the Consent Agenda, which constitutes the approval 

of all action items listed therein. [2023.10.01]

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the minutes of the June 12, 2023, meeting 

of the Board of Regents.

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed slate of candidates for

appointment or reappointment to six (6) Smithsonian Institution Advisory Boards.

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed amendments to the bylaws of 

the Commission of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed amendments to the bylaws of 

the Smithsonian National Board.

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed amendments to the bylaws of 

the SITES I SA Advisory Board.

VOTED that the Board of Regents recognizes the generosity of Robert C. Davidson, Jr. 

and Alice Faye Davidson to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and names the 

Robert and Faye Davidson Family Gallery, for a term of the longer of 20 years or until 

the next major renovation of the Gallery, whichever occurs later.

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

Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage to support Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. 

Further, the Board of Regents authorizes the transfer of the funds identified for this 

purpose.

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

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute to support Barro Colorado Island field station 

activities. Further, the Board of Regents authorizes the transfer of the funds identified 

for this purpose.

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the proposed amendments to the Audit and Review

Committee Charter. [2023.10.02]

VOTED that the Board of Regents appoints Carla Vernón, Ileana Musa, and Mike Suco to the 

Board of Trustees of the National Museum of the American Latino for a three-year term each, 

effective immediately. [2023.10.03]
2

VOTED that the Board of Regents reappoints José E. Feliciano, Soledad O'Brien, and Sofía 

Vergara to the Board of Trustees of the National Museum of the American Latino for a threeyear term each, retroactive from June 14, 2022, to June 13, 2025. [2023.10.04]

VOTED that the Board of Regents reappoints Raul A. Anaya, Rick Gomez, Alberto Ibargüen, 

Margarita Paláu-Hernández, and José Luis Prado to the Board of Trustees of the National 

Museum of the American Latino for a three-year term each, retroactive from June 14, 2023, to 

June 13, 2026. [2023.10.05]

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the posthumous appointment of Dorothy Tapper 

Goldman as an emeritus member of the Commission of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 

effective immediately. [2023.10.06]

VOTED that the Board of Regents approves the Secretary and Under Secretary’s request for 

authority to sign the contemplated five-year lease extension for approximately 133,984 

rentable square feet of administrative office, collections, and storage space for the Archives of 

American Art (“AAA); National Portrait Gallery (“NPG”); Smithsonian American Art Museum

(“SAAM”); and the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives (“SLA”) in the Victor Building, at 750 

Ninth Street, NW, Washington, DC. [2023.10.07]

VOTED that the Board of Regents elects Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey as Chair of the Smithsonian 

Institution’s Board of Regents for a one-year term effective January 30, 2024. [2023.10.08]

VOTED that the Board of Regents elects Barbara Barrett as Vice Chair of the Smithsonian 

Institution’s Board of Regents for a one-year term effective January 30, 2024. [2023.10.09]

VOTED that the Board of Regents elects Frank Raines as a member of the Smithsonian Board of 

Regents’ Executive Committee for a one-year term effective January 30, 2024. [2023.10.10]