Aviva Rosenthal

Aviva Rosenthal is the Director of the Smithsonian's Office of Global Affairs (OGA). She has more than 25 years of diverse experience in government, business and the non-profit sector. At OGA, Aviva oversees the development, growth, and implementation of the Smithsonian’s global footprint, which includes integrating the Institution’s strategic priorities into its vast array of international projects, programs, research, relationships, and activities and effectively communicating its global impact to a wide variety of stakeholders. She stewards the Institution’s strategic partnerships with international governments, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and other multi-lateral entities, as well as ongoing collaborations between the Smithsonian and various U.S. federal agencies including the U.S. Department of State.

Before joining the Smithsonian in 2013, Aviva served as Chief of Staff to the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of State which oversaw the bureaus that encompassed the United States’ communications with international audiences, cultural programming, academic grants, educational exchanges, social media, and international visitor programs. Aviva brought to the State Department more than 10 years of experience directing various non-profits focused on promoting civic engagement through traveling exhibits, curriculum development, public relations, use of celebrity and corporate marketing partnerships.  

Aviva began her career in Washington, DC as a Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Presidential Scheduling at the White House. In that capacity she coordinated the policy and political priorities of various offices within the White House, the Cabinet, and other key stakeholders into the highly detailed schedule of the President and the meticulously planned elements of the events that comprise it.