Indiana Humanities leader to step down after 18 years

Keira Amstutz, Indiana Humanities’ president and CEO, is stepping down from the nonprofit organization she’s led since 2008. She plans to start a consulting practice and will remain a passionate supporter, donor and volunteer for Indiana Humanities and the statewide cultural community. 
  
Amstutz’s entrepreneurial leadership transformed 54-year-old Indiana Humanities, helping it grow into a nationally respected innovator reaching more Hoosiers than ever with events and programs that draw people together, strengthen communities and facilitate meaningful impact. 
 
With Amstutz as its leader, Indiana Humanities emerged as an essential part of the cultural infrastructure of the state and a relentless convenor, engaging an ever-expanding corps of partners, funders and collaborators to raise the profile of the humanities and the role they play in shaping Hoosiers’ lives. 
 
“It’s been a privilege to witness the growth, creativity and impact of the work we do with partners across the state and to see so many people and organizations show up, participate, contribute in countless ways and embrace the power of the humanities to bring us together,” Amstutz said. “It’s been fulfilling to help communities realize their dreams.” 

Katie Glick, chair of the Indiana Humanities board, said, “Keira developed partnerships that
benefit Hoosiers across the state by making the humanities accessible, meaningful and fun. Her
public service and community engagement helped the organization scale, and her connections
brought new donors to the table. We’re extremely grateful for her 18 years of transformational
service. She built an incredible legacy which will endure, and which puts Indiana Humanities in
a strong position for an exciting future.”

National Leader in Making the Humanities Accessible to All 

As Indiana’s administrator of National Endowment for the Humanities grants, Indiana Humanities has in the last 10 years distributed millions of dollars in federal funds to local libraries, colleges, small and large museums and other nonprofits in all of Indiana’s 92 counties.  

Humanities events and programs draw from history, literature, poetry, philosophy and ethics, world languages and cultures, religious studies, archaeology and related subjects to help us understand ourselves and each other and, as a result, build stronger communities. 

During the pandemic, the organization quickly deployed an infusion of federal funds to hundreds of organizations throughout the state to stabilize the sector.  

Programming set Indiana Humanities apart  

Since Amstutz took the helm of Indiana Humanities, the organization has launched fresh programmatic approaches and established itself as a leader of statewide initiatives. 

Program models that made the humanities more approachable and accessible include Food for Thought, INconversations, Campfires, Chew on This, and a wide range of community programs that encourage Hoosiers to discuss important issues. Collaborations with major events such as the Indianapolis 500, Super Bowl and basketball championships expanded Indiana Humanities’ impact and opportunities to contribute to important moments in the life of the state. 

A key innovation was the adoption of multiyear themes that serve as guides for programming. The current theme centers on American history, civics and democracy in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Under Amstutz’s leadership, Indiana Humanities won two national Schwartz Prizes, the award for the top humanities programs given by the Federation of State Humanities Councils. In 2022-2023, Indiana Humanities marked 50 years of service with a year of celebration culminating in hosting the National Humanities Conference in Indianapolis. 

Expansion of philanthropic support for Indiana Humanities has also been a notable accomplishment. Over the past 18 years, Amstutz cultivated relationships with foundations and donors and oversaw the establishment of an endowment, providing a platform for sustainability. Thanks to significant private grants, Indiana Humanities dramatically grew its literary work and is now the home of the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Awards and the new Proof literary festival. 

Indiana Humanities also proudly guides the work of the Lilly Scholars Network, an organization created to connect scholars with one another, their communities and the state of Indiana. 

In 2026, Indiana Humanities will undertake a variety of grants, programs and events. These include commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through programs including a statewide tour of the Smithsonian’s Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit, a Civics and Democracy Speakers Bureau, The American Revolution documentary screenings and conversations in partnership with Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations and WFYI, and more. The organization will also be awarding the Indiana Authors Awards, hosting Proof: A Midwest Lit Fest and rolling out new programming and grants. 

Looking Ahead 

Amstutz’s last official day as president and CEO will be Feb. 13. Beginning Feb. 14, former board member Mark Maassel will serve as interim president and CEO. Amstutz will be supporting the organization on a limited contract during the transition. Board chair Katie Glick has formed a committee to spearhead the search for the organization’s next leader.  

Amstutz Background 

Prior to joining Indiana Humanities, Amstutz served as chief counsel and director of policy for the City of Indianapolis, where she led the city’s successful Cultural Development Initiative, a public-private collaboration launched to elevate the city’s cultural profile. A DePauw University graduate with a degree in political science, Amstutz served as a fellow in the office of former Indiana governor Evan Bayh. She earned a J.D. from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law. Amstutz and her husband Shawn Mulholland have been married for 33 years and have two daughters and a son-in-law.