Celebrating Lonnie G. Bunch III and His Impact on the Museum Field

September 9, 2026

As Lonnie G. Bunch III announces his retirement, ICOM-US joins museum colleagues across the United States and around the world in celebrating an extraordinary career of leadership, scholarship, diplomacy, and service. Lonnie’s impact cannot be measured only by the institutions he has led or the milestones he has achieved. It lives in the countless museum professionals he has inspired to think more deeply, lead more courageously, listen more carefully, and ask more of ourselves and our institutions.

Throughout his career, Lonnie has shown us the power of museums to bring people together, confront difficult histories honestly, embrace complexity, and build understanding across differences. His diplomacy, humanity, and commitment to the public purpose of museums have left a lasting mark on our field. ICOM-US is especially proud to have had Lonnie serve as Co-Chair of our U.S. National Committee. His commitment to international exchange and building relationships across cultures and borders represents the very best of ICOM. We are deeply grateful for all he has given to museums, to our country, and to the global museum community. We wish him nothing but happiness in the chapter ahead.

Thank you, Lonnie. You inspired so many of us to do better and to be better.