Stephanie Smith Appointed Director of Krannert Art Museum at University of Illinois

Stephanie Smith has been selected as the incoming director of Krannert Art Museum, which is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Smith possesses over ten years of experience in museum administration and is recognized nationally for her work in contemporary art and institutional management. Currently, she works as a freelance curator and arts advisor in Chicago and holds a visiting fellowship for 2025–2026 at the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago. Prior to this appointment, Smith acted as interim director at the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago, where she managed a budget of $4.5 million, enhanced donor relations, secured funding for facility improvements, and provided stable guidance during a leadership transition. Her background includes a proven ability to lead museums with strategic vision and operational steadiness.