Stephanie stebich, Executive DIRECTOR
Stephanie Stebich is the first Executive Director of the Boris Lurie Art Foundation, marking a new chapter following the leadership of Gertrude Stein, the Foundation's Founder and President. Stebich, an esteemed museum professional, most recently served as Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary for Museums and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution. Prior to that beginning in 2017, she spent seven years as The Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM).
Before joining the Smithsonian, Stebich served as Executive Director of the Tacoma Art Museum for twelve years, where she led transformational initiatives, including the expansion of two new galleries and the acquisition of landmark art and philanthropic gifts. Under her leadership, the museum experienced significant growth in attendance, educational programming, and public engagement.
Stebich holds an undergraduate degree in art history with honors from Columbia College, Columbia University, and a master's degree in modern art from New York University's Institute of Fine Arts. She also earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Management at Case Western Reserve University and is a graduate of the Getty Museum Leadership Institute. A respected leader in the museum community, she has served as a trustee for both the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Alliance of Museums.