Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities

The Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the executive leader of the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency created in 1965. The Chair directs the NEH and is the sole position in the agency with the legal authority to make grants and awards. The NEH Chair is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The appointment and term of the Chair are statutorily defined in 20 U.S.C. § 956(b), and the Chair's authority is defined throughout 20 U.S.C. § 956. The National Council on the Humanities, a board of 26 private citizens who are also appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, advises the Chair.

Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities of United States Government
Incumbent Adam Wolfson (acting) since January 20, 2021
National Endowment for the Humanities
Style	Mister or Madam
Member of	National Council on the Humanities
Reports to	President of the United States
Seat	Washington, D.C.
Nominator	President of the United States
Term length	4 years Typically changes with the election of a new president.
Constituting instrument	Humanities Act of 1965 (Pub.L. 89–209)
Formation	1966
First holder	Barnaby Keeney
Deputy	Deputy Chair

List of Chairpersons

• Barnaby Keeney, 1963–1965, Chair of National Commission on the Humanities
• Henry Allen Moe, 1965–66, Interim Chair
• Barnaby Keeney, 1966–1970
• Wallace Edgerton, Acting Chair, 1970–71
• Ronald Berman, 1971–1977
• Robert Kingston, Acting Chair, 1977
• Joseph Duffey, 1977–81
• William J. Bennett, 1981–85
• John Agresto, Acting Chair, 1985
• Lynne Cheney, 1986–1993
• Jerry L. Martin, Acting Chair, 1993
• Donald Gibson, Acting Chair, 1993
• Sheldon Hackney, 1993–97
• Bruce A. Lehman, Acting Chair, 1997
• William R. Ferris, 1997–2001
• Bruce Cole, 2001–2009[1][2][3][4][5]
• Carole M. Watson, Acting Chair, 2009[6][7]
• Jim Leach, 2009–2013[8]
• Carole M. Watson, Acting Chair, 2013–2014[9]
• William 'Bro' Adams, 2014–2017[10][11][12]
• Margaret "Peggy" Plympton, Acting Chair, 2017–2018
• Jon Parrish Peede, 2018–2021 [13]
• Adam Wolfson, Acting Chair, 2021–present[14]

References

1. Bruce Cole to Depart the National Endowment for the Humanities," Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine press release dated November 12, 2008, at NEH website.
2. U.S. Congress (4 September 2001). "Nominations". Congressional Record. 147 (113): S9088. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
3. U.S. Congress (14 September 2001). "Confirmations". Congressional Record. 147 (120): S9464. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
4. U.S. Congress (18 July 2005). "Nominations". Congressional Record. 151 (97): S8438. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
5. U.S. Congress (17 December 2005). "Confirmations". Congressional Record. 151 (163): S13969. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
6. "President Obama appoints Carole M. Watson as Acting Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine," press release dated February 10, 2009, at NEH website.
7. Stan Katz, "Who Can Lead the NEH," Chronicle Review blog post, February 10, 2009.
8. Robin Pogrebin, "Rocco Landesman Confirmed as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts", New York Times, August 7, 2009.
9. "Deputy Chairman". Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
10. "William "Bro" Adams Confirmed as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities". National Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
11. "NEH Chairman William D. Adams Announces Resignation". National Endowment for the Humanities. 2017-05-22. Archived from the original on 2018-02-08.
12. D'Zurilla, Christie (May 22, 2017). "NEH Chairman William D. Adams resigns". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
13. "Jon Parrish Peede Confirmed as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities," National Endowment for the Humanities. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
14. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/20/president-joe-biden-announces-acting-federal-agency-leadership/