Becky Kobberod

The Board of Regents reelected the Chair and Vice Chair for one-year terms and reelected a member to the Executive Committee. The Board adopted the Consent Agenda, approved a slate of candidates for appointments to six advisory boards, amended the Governance and Nominating Committee's Charter, and approved amendments to the bylaws of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Advisory Council. Additionally, the Board recognized a corporate donor by naming a design hangar and authorized the creation of a new quasi-endowment for the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

The Executive Committee appointed and reappointed members to the Board of Trustees of the Archives of American Art for four-year terms. Additionally, the committee authorized the submission of a federal budget request for fiscal year 2022 to Congress, totaling $1,102.0 million, and empowered the Secretary to communicate the implications of the budget regarding the Smithsonian's mission and priorities to relevant government offices.

The Board of Regents meeting covered several key business and strategic items. Key topics included the appreciation for a late Investment Committee member, the approval of a gift from Jeffrey P. Bezos for GEOTREES, and the approval of a consent agenda involving advisory board appointments and naming recognitions. The Board reviewed reports from various committees, including Advancement, Investment, Strategy, Innovation, and Technology, and Government Relations. Financial actions taken included the approval of the fiscal year 2024 endowment payout, the creation of a quasi-endowment for National Air and Space Museum debt repayment, and the approval of fiscal year 2025 federal budget priorities. Governance actions included the dissolution of the Smithsonian National Latino Board, the naming of a Regent Emeritus, and the appointment of two individuals to the Order of James Smithson. Furthermore, the Secretary updated the Board on the Smithsonian Campaign, the implementation of a new CRM software, media coverage regarding the human remains collection policy, and discussed congressional relations and site selection for new museums.

The Board of Regents meeting covered a broad range of institutional updates, including personnel changes, financial reports, and the status of several construction and facility renovation projects. Key topics discussed were the Smithsonian Campaign progress, the South Campus Master Plan Initiative, and ongoing STEM education programs through the Smithsonian Science Education Center and the Q?rius Center. The Board also reviewed investment committee reports regarding endowment performance, addressed facilities maintenance challenges, and approved various advisory board appointments and bylaw amendments.

The Board discussed various institutional matters, including updates on the construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian's federal and trust budget status, and sequestration planning. Presentations covered outreach and educational initiatives, the implementation of pan-institutional digital strategies, and research highlights from the National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Additionally, the Board reviewed reports on the Smithsonian's endowment performance, advancement activities, and compensation policies.