Dr. Lanisa S. Kitchiner
Kitchiner has held leadership roles in global and diasporic programming at Harvard University, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, and Howard University. As executive director of Harvard University’s Center for African Studies, she oversaw operations in Cambridge and South Africa, managed sponsored programs, and spearheaded fundraising initiatives. She has also served as chief of the African and Middle Eastern Division at the Library of Congress, where she led a team responsible for curating and interpreting a vast collection relevant to Africa, the Middle East, and their diasporas. As director of education and scholarly initiatives at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, she showcased her ability to develop public programs and exhibitions that facilitated cross-cultural understanding. In addition, Kitchiner was previously an associate director at Howard University’s Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center, where she led international programs and curated exhibitions, including a permanent tribute to Ralph Bunche.
Kitchiner is a Howard alumna who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and political science and a Ph.D. in African studies and research with emphasis on art, history, and culture.
