Richard Kurin

Dr. Richard Kurin has served the Smithsonian Institution for over four decades, most recently as Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large, following roles as Acting Provost and Under Secretary for Museums and Research. His career spans leadership of multiple Smithsonian divisions, including oversight of national museums, research centers, and cultural programs. As a cultural anthropologist with a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, he has specialized in South Asian studies and contributed significantly to global cultural heritage preservation. For two decades, he directed the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, managing the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and Folkways Recordings. His international impact includes helping draft UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, now ratified by more than 170 nations