John K. Lapiana

John K. Lapiana is the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, the nation’s premiere museum devoted to the arts of Africa. Founded as a small museum on Capitol Hill in 1964, the museum became a part of the Smithsonian in 1979 and, in 1987, it moved to its current location on the National Mall. The museum’s collection of more than 12,000 objects represents nearly every area of the continent of Africa and contains a variety of media and art forms. 

For the previous two years, Lapiana served as interim director of the museum, guiding the museum through a transition phase, building staff and leading plans for the museum’s 60th anniversary this year. Lapiana increased focus on visitor experience, initiated an ambitious fundraising effort and continued implementation of the Smithsonian’s Shared Stewardship and Ethical Returns policy that began with the repatriation of Benin bronzes in the museum’s collections to their place of origin, Nigeria.

Lapiana has served in a variety of leadership positions since joining the Smithsonian in 1998 as an attorney in the general counsel’s office. Prior to serving as the National Museum of African Art’s interim director, he was senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Museums and Culture. Before that he was Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and External Affairs at the Smithsonian, which included the Office of Public Affairs, Government Relations, Special Events and Protocol, Visitor Services and International Relations. During this period, he was also the Deputy Under Secretary for Finance and Administration, responsible for overseeing the facilities, information technology, human resources, contracting and other administrative offices.

In 2007, he was appointed as the first chief of staff to the Board of Regents providing counsel and support to the members of the Board and Smithsonian senior staff.

From 2002 to 2007, Lapiana served as senior program officer under the Smithsonian’s Deputy Secretary and chief operating officer. In that role, he helped to oversee programmatic activities in the museums and administrative units reporting to the Deputy Secretary. From 1998 to 2002, Lapiana was an assistant general counsel where he provided guidance on a variety of legal issues and represented the Smithsonian in administrative proceedings and other types of litigation.

Before coming to the Smithsonian, Lapiana was a trial and appellate attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division from 1992 to 1998. He served as a clerk to Chief Judge Paul R. Michel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 1991 to 1992. He was an associate at Wilmer, Cutler, and Pickering, a law firm in Washington, D.C., from 1987 to 1991. 

Lapiana earned his J.D. (1987) and bachelor’s degree (1984) from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

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SI-12-2024