The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) has appointed Lynda Roscoe Hartigan as its new director, concluding a 17-month search. Hartigan, who is leaving her position as executive director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum, will begin her role in September, succeeding acting director Jane Carpenter-Rock. She previously worked at SAAM as a curator in the 1970s and has held senior leadership roles at the Peabody Essex Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Hartigan's appointment comes during a period of significant political and institutional pressure on the Smithsonian. SAAM was specifically named in a controversial executive order by former President Donald Trump, which threatened federal funding for museums that deviate from a prescribed historical narrative. The museum is also undergoing a federal audit, and the Smithsonian has seen a wave of high-level departures. Hartigan's deep institutional knowledge and leadership experience are seen as assets to navigate these challenges and guide the museum's future.