Director, Office of Presidential Libraries

Kara S. Blond

Kara S. Blond became the Director of the Office of Presidential Libraries in July 2022. As Director of the Presidential Library system, Ms. Blond oversees the 15 archives and museums administered by NARA across the country that promote understanding of the American experience, preserve and provide access to historical materials, and create interactive programs and exhibitions.

Before coming to NARA, Ms. Blond served as Executive Director of the Capital Jewish Museum from 2017 to 2022, where she led the effort to envision, plan, fund and build a new museum in the nation’s capital. Blond oversaw strategic and operational planning, an extensive capital campaign, cutting-edge exhibition and program development, design and construction of a new facility, and restoration of a landmark historic site. Previously, Ms. Blond was Director of Exhibitions at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, where she provided strategic direction for the exhibitions and public engagement program and managed key national partnerships. Earlier, Ms. Blond oversaw exhibition development at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. Ms. Blond received a master’s degree in Education: Learning, Design and Technology from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.