Nancy Yao has “withdrawn” from her role as founding director of the Smithsonian’s new American Women’s History Museum in Washington, DC.
In a statement (via Hyperallergic), the Smithsonian said Yao “has withdrawn from the position of founding director due to family issues that require her attention”.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian said the American Women’s History Museum “will begin a new search for a director immediately”.
Melanie Adams, currently the director of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, will serve as the new museum’s interim director.
Yao’s departure comes after the Smithsonian Institution completed its investigation into how she handled sexual harassment claims in her previous role as president of the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
The investigation delayed Yao’s appointment at the Smithsonian, which was due to begin on 5 June. She was announced as the director of the new museum in March.
In April, however, the Washington Post reported that Yao had to settle three wrongful-termination lawsuits filed by employees at MOCA who said they were fired in retaliation for reporting alleged sexual harassment on behalf of female employees. Yao has denied that any employees were let go in retaliation, instead citing budget pressures.
In a press release announcing the appointment, Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch said Yao’s “proven experience, skill and leadership will be crucial in bringing to life” the new museum.
Smithsonian to begin new search for a director
“Creating voice for the stories of American women will take intentional conversations, creative inputs and energetic curation,” said Yao.
Authorised by Congress in late 2020, the American Women’s History Museum had received more than $55 million in donations to boost its development as of February this year.
This will go towards the initial planning of the museum’s building and the production of its digital content.
In more Smithsonian news, the organisation has chosen architecture firm Perkins & Will to design the new Bezos Learning Center at the National Air and Space Museum.
