Beth Ziebarth selected as Head Diversity Officer for the Smithsonian

Ziebarth has been serving as the Interim Head Diversity Officer and has more than 30 years’ experience in diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion issues.

Secretary Bunch announced Jan. 12 that Beth Ziebarth has been selected as the Head Diversity Officer for the Smithsonian, effective immediately. The Institution undertook a lengthy and extensive search, considering both internal and external candidates for the position, and Ziebarth emerged as the top choice due to her extensive experience as a diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion practitioner, as well as her deep knowledge of the Smithsonian and its people.

Ziebarth is well known to many who have worked with her during her 34 years at the Smithsonian, where she has served as a Social Science Analyst in the Institutional Studies Office, as leader of Access Smithsonian, and more recently, as the Interim Head Diversity Officer. Ziebarth has effectively translated her personal interest in accessibility and disability into a broader professional perspective and responsibility for DEAI initiatives for both visitors and staff. She will continue to build a sustainable staff-owned DEAI program, informed by our collective lived experiences, and fueled by the goal of equity of opportunity, inclusion, and recognition. 

The Smithsonian is committed to advancing DEAI in our Institution, and we also want to embody the kind of inclusiveness that will serve as a model of excellence for other organizations. Achieving meaningful change will require a more robust investment and the work of many—Ziebarth will not be alone in carrying out the work of this important office. Joining her in February on a six-month interim basis will be Oris Sanjur, deputy director of the Smithsonian’s Tropical Research Institute. In the coming months, Ziebarth and Sanjur will outline areas of focus and top priorities for the office of the Head Diversity Officer. Sanjur will bring her experience as a scientist, researcher, and representative from an SI unit located outside of the Washington D.C. area, to this mission. She also has proven her dedication to creating an inclusive culture at the Smithsonian, a determination that we welcome.

In addition, Melanie Adams, director of the Anacostia Community Museum and Beth’s co-lead for our strategic plan’s DEAI initiative will continue to support the implementation and execution of the initiative. The goal of our DEAI initiative is to implement a robust internal diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion program that ensures that Smithsonian policies and practices reduce barriers to equity and reflect the same principles of inclusion that the Smithsonian seeks to disseminate through its external programs and scholarship.

“Beth is thoughtful and passionate about diversity and inclusion and is adept at applying DEAI concepts to the work of the Institution,” said Secretary Bunch. “We are confident that she will help all of us strengthen our DEAI practices, making the Smithsonian an even more effective organization. Please join me in congratulating Beth on her new role and thanking Oris and Melanie for their continued commitment to the Institution.”

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