May

Melanie Adams will head the Anacostia Community Museum

Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton announced today that Melanie A. Adams will become the director of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, effective August 5. Adams currently serves as Deputy Director, Learning Initiatives, at the Minnesota Historical Society. With more than 25 years of community engagement experience in museums and higher education, she is dedicated to bringing stakeholders together to address community issues.

Melanie A. Adams

Since 2016, Adams has led efforts at the Minnesota Historical Society to develop strategic partnerships, audiences and resources within local communities. During her tenure, she created a community outreach department to provide partnerships and programs to connect local communities with the 26 historic sites and museums she manages throughout Minnesota.

Prior to her time at the Minnesota Historical Society, Adams was managing director of the Missouri Historical Society for eleven years. In that role, she addressed the social and cultural concerns of the St. Louis community and oversaw more than 700 community programs each year, including events with more than 100 partners.

Earlier in her career, Adams focused on racial inequality in education. Appointed by the mayor in 2007 to the Special Administrative Board of St. Louis Public Schools, she worked for nine years with students, staff and the public to help the district regain accreditation. Melanie has received numerous accolades for her community work; she was named a St. Louis NAACP 100 Community Leader in 2009, and the Royal Vagabonds Foundation Extraordinary St. Louis Trailblazer in 2014.

“Melanie is a proven educator, administrator and leader,” said David Skorton, Secretary of the Smithsonian. “Her stellar leadership at cultural institutions and national non-profits demonstrate that she has the experience and vision to guide the Anacostia Community Museum to a bright future by expanding its reach and impact.”

Adams was president of the Association of Midwest Museums from 2014 to 2016, and she currently serves on the board of directors for the American Association of State and Local History. As a facilitator of workshops on topics related to museums and race, she helps professionals understand barriers to connecting with diverse audiences.

“I am excited and honored to join the staff of the Anacostia Community Museum and build upon the great legacy of socially relevant programs, exhibits and collections that explore the D.C. community and serve as a national model for the museum field,” Adams said.

Adams holds a bachelor’s degree in English/African-American studies from the University of Virginia, a master’s of education degree from the University of Vermont and a doctorate from the University of Missouri St. Louis in educational leadership and policy studies.

She succeeds Lori Yarrish, who served as director of the museum from December 2017 until her passing in August 2018. Lisa Sasaki, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, has served as interim director since then.

Rendering of the Anacostia Community Museum renovation project Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution

The museum is closed for renovations though mid-October 2019, but continues its community outreach through its “Offsite and In the City” initiative, which includes satellite exhibits of the exhibition “A Right to the City” at the D.C. Public Library and complementary public programs at venues throughout the District.