Stephanie Stebich was removed from her post as the director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum after staff complaints about her behaviour.
As per reports, Stephanie Stebich, who had been serving as SAAM’s director since 2017, was reassigned to a senior advisory role. This came after a letter from a senior staff in July 2023 outlining serious concerns regarding her behaviour.
The letter was only the tip of the iceberg representing the museum staff’s frustration with Stebich. In a 2023 staff meeting, the word “toxic director” was among the top concerns of museum staff. The serious allegations of misbehaviour against Stephanie Stebich include issuing contradictory instructions, fostering rivalries among employees, publicly insulting staff, and shifting blame from herself.
When the news first broke, the Smithsonian leadership tried to defend Stebich. Meanwhile, the museum’s board of directors called for her immediate removal. Months of internal investigation followed, culminating with a mere reassignment of Stephanie Stebich. Jane Carpenter-Rock has been appointed acting director until a suitable replacement could be found.
Before the allegations, Stephanie Stebich had a stellar career at the SAAM. She became known for her fundraisers, raising over $100 million for the museum during her tenure. Under her leadership, the museum diversified it’s collection and launched some significant initiatives, like the 50th anniversary acquisition drive at the Renwick Gallery.
This is not the only leadership crisis faced by the Smithsonian recently. In July of last year, Nancy Yao – who was chosen as the director of the upcoming American Women’s History Museum, withdrew her name. The move came after it was revealed that she settled multiple wrongful termination lawsuits during her tenure as the president of the Museum of Chinese in America.
