National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly C. Lowe, the first Native American and second woman to hold the agency’s highest-ranking post, has stepped down from her role “at the direction of President Trump,” according to an NEH spokesperson. Lowe, a member of the Navajo Nation, was appointed to lead the agency by former President Joe Biden in 2021. The NEH is the largest public funder of humanities in the United States, providing grants to museums, libraries, scholars, nonprofits, and research institutions through various programs.
Prior to her role as NEH Chair, Lowe served on the National Council on the Humanities, an advisory body to the NEH, after being appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2015. One of Lowe’s main priorities during her tenure was to support small and lesser-known organizations, tribal communities, and educational institutions. In a roundtable discussion at the Albuquerque Press Club, she emphasized the importance of funding these smaller entities to help them thrive.
Michael McDonald, who previously served as the agency’s lawyer, has now taken over as the interim NEH Chair until a new nomination is made by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Lowe’s departure, as reported by the New York Times, is seen as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to exert control over federally funded arts and culture institutions in order to bring about what Trump has described as a “golden age of arts and culture.”
This move follows the resignation of Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, ahead of Trump’s inauguration. Trump’s recent appointment as Chair of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts has stirred controversy within the arts community, with concerns raised about the future of federally funded arts programs and initiatives.
Despite the challenges faced during her time as NEH Chair, Lowe has a strong background in advocating for Native American communities and promoting cultural diversity. She has previously held positions at the National Museum of the American Indian, Yale University, and Harvard University, focusing on Native American cultural initiatives.
In an interview on the NEH website, Lowe expressed her desire to reach underserved communities and encourage a diverse range of institutions to apply for NEH funding. Her commitment to supporting tribal colleges, small colleges, and community colleges reflects her dedication to ensuring that all voices are represented in the field of humanities.
As the arts and cultural landscape continues to evolve under the Trump administration, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the future of federally funded humanities programs and initiatives.
