Lonnie Bunch III announced that he will leave his post as the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution on December 31, 2026. The decision ends a tenure that began in June 2023 when he became the first Black individual and the first professional historian to hold the agency’s top leadership role.
Bunch, a historian originally from Chicago, entered the Smithsonian after a career that included directing the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Prior to his appointment, he served as president of the Chicago History Museum, overseeing its programs and exhibitions.
During his three‑year term, Bunch guided the Smithsonian through a period of ongoing exhibition development, research initiatives, and public engagement efforts. His background in museum leadership and African American history shaped several institutional priorities, including expanding access to collections and highlighting underrepresented narratives.
The announcement did not specify a successor, and the Smithsonian’s board of regents will oversee the transition. The institution’s leadership team indicated that the organization will continue its ongoing projects without interruption and will begin a search for new leadership in the coming months.
Bunch’s departure marks the end of a historic appointment that broke multiple barriers within the nation’s premier cultural complex. His tenure is noted for reinforcing the Smithsonian’s role as a national repository of knowledge while emphasizing inclusive storytelling.
The Smithsonian Institution, comprised of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and numerous research facilities, will continue its mission to increase public understanding of the world’s cultural and scientific heritage. As the year draws to a close, the institution prepares for the administrative change while maintaining its schedule of exhibitions, educational programs, and scientific research.