IMLS Leadership

Thomas ("Tom") M. Browder III was appointed IMLS General Counsel in December 2024. Previously, Browder served as the Deputy Chief Counsel for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, advising senior leaders on contracts, employment, ethics, and other legal areas. During 2023, he served a term SES appointment as Chief Counsel for Goddard Space Flight Center. Browder began his career with the federal government in 2007, joining the U.S.

Anthony D. Smith is the Associate Deputy Director for Discretionary Programs in the Office of Library Services at IMLS. His portfolio includes oversight of programs like Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program, National Leadership Grants for Libraries, and Native American Library Services grants.

Cyndee Landrum resumed duties as Acting Director of IMLS on January 20, 2025. She previously served in the position from March 21, 2024, to October 22, 2024. She has been serving as the Deputy Director of the Office of Library Services since June 2019. In her current role she collaborates with IMLS's senior leadership to support agency priorities, policy, and partnerships, and provide leadership and direction for the library grant programs.

Laura Huerta Migus was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Museum Services in July 2021. She came to IMLS following her tenure as executive director of the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) in Arlington, Virginia, the world's largest professional society promoting and advocating on behalf of children's museums and children’s museum professionals. Under her leadership, ACM pursued innovative and effective partnerships to leverage the power of children’s museums worldwide.

Tsione Wolde-Michael is the Executive Director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). Under her direction, the Committee will advise the President on policy objectives, public/private partnerships, and programs to enhance support for the arts, humanities, and museum and library services across the country.

Scott Carey was appointed as IMLS Chief Operating Officer in April 2021, following his tenure as the agency's Chief Information Officer, beginning in September 2019. Mr. Carey previously served as the executive for Technology and Strategy within the FBI's Office of Chief Information Officer and has broad experience across multiple agencies.

In March of 2013, Chris Catignani was appointed as IMLS Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Catignani has most recently served as IMLS Deputy Chief Financial Officer from 2011-2013. He brings over 20 years of experience in financial reporting and operational auditing, the last seven of which have been in the Federal sector in Financial Reporting and Reconciliation.

Anthony Marucci was appointed IMLS Director of Communications and Public Liaison in August 2022. He is responsible for defining the IMLS brand and cultivating external relationships and oversees the strategic engagement of external and internal stakeholders, Congress, the Administration, government officials, the media and news outlets, the public, professional groups, and current and prospective collaborators.

Julie Balutis was appointed as IMLS Director of Grants Policy and Management in March 2024. She is responsible for developing innovative strategies to maximize the effectiveness of IMLS’s grantmaking, constructing and implementing uniform grant policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with federal requirements throughout all pre-and-post-award activities.

Matt Birnbaum is the Director of the Office of Research and Evaluation and has been with IMLS since 2011. He leads a growing portfolio of ORE services utilizing a wide array of social scientific applications including statistical survey collections, monitoring/evaluation endeavors including performance reporting, research investigations, and data innovations.

Antoine Dotson was appointed as IMLS Director of Human Resources in December 2011. He served as IMLS Deputy Director of Human Resources from 2009-2011. Antoine Dotson brings over 20 years of experience in the Federal sector in Human Resources Management where he studied Human Resources Management at Strayer University.

Tekquell Watson was appointed as IMLS Chief Information Officer in May 2022. As CIO, she oversees the agency’s information technology functions, as well as its policy research, evaluation, surveys and data work. Ms. Watson previously served as the Chief of Special Missions Division in the Communications Directorate located at Robins Air Force Base. In that role, she was instrumental in several successful innovative projects with enterprise impacts.