The Smithsonian Institution announced today that Secretary Lawrence M. Small, 11th Secretary of the Institution, has resigned, effective immediately. Roger W. Sant, chairman of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents Executive Committee, announced the resignation today at a news conference.

Small’s letter of resignation was accepted by John G. Roberts Jr., chief justice of the United States and chancellor of the Smithsonian.

“The Board of Regents accepts your decision with sincere appreciation for your lasting contributions over the past seven years. The Board recognizes that the Smithsonian Institution has benefited greatly from your leadership and dedication,” Roberts said in a letter to Small. “I speak on behalf of the full Board in observing that the future of the Smithsonian remains bright.”

Cristián Samper (sam-PAIR), director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, will be Acting Secretary while the Regents conduct a nationwide search for a permanent replacement. The Regents’ search committee, chaired by Alan G. Spoon, is being organized and the search process will begin immediately.

Cristián Samper joined the Smithsonian in 2001 as deputy director and acting director of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, based in Panama. He was appointed director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in 2003, where he has been responsible for managing the largest natural history collection in the world (more than 126 million specimens and artifacts), overseeing scientific staff that produces more than 500 research publications each year and hosting 6 million visitors annually. Samper obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees in biology from Harvard University.

“My priority in the coming months will be to strengthen the public trust in the Smithsonian Institution and ensure that our priority projects and activities continue on track,” Samper said. “I look forward to working with our dedicated and committed staff, volunteers and supporters in strengthening the work of the Smithsonian and insuring we have the necessary resources to accomplish our goals.”

Small served as Secretary from January 2000 through March 2007. Recently, his expenses and compensation were the subject of a Smithsonian inspector general’s report and congressional inquiry. Although the inspector general found “no evidence of fraud or abuse” she noted some expenses “might be considered lavish and extravagant.” The Board of Regents approved the expenses and compensation package and considered them reasonable for the leader of the world’s largest museum and research complex.

The Board of Regents recently created an Independent Review Committee to review the inspector general’s reports on Small’s compensation and expenses, and the Regents’ response and actions. The committee’s recommendations are due to the Regents in approximately 60 days. In addition, the Regents created a new, permanent Committee on Governance chaired by Patty Stonesifer. The committee will review all governance practices at the Smithsonian and conduct a review of comparable institutions’ best practices. A plan for best practices for governance of the Smithsonian Institution will be submitted to the full board.

In his letter of resignation, Small noted, “Having spent countless days and evenings promoting the interests of the Institution and having contributed over a half a million dollars of my own money as well, it has truly been a labor of love. I’m most grateful to my colleagues in the Smithsonian’s leadership team and all those throughout the Institution who have contributed so much during my tenure as Secretary.”

During Small’s tenure, more than $1 billion was raised in private donations. The Smithsonian opened three new facilities: the National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center; the National Museum of the American Indian; and the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture.

The Smithsonian is a museum and research complex of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park and six research facilities. There are more than 6,000 Smithsonian employees, including 500 scientists and 5,500 volunteers. Approximately 23 million people from around the world visited the museums and the National Zoo in 2006. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 137 million, including more than 126 million specimens and artifacts at the National Museum of Natural History.