Sanchita Balachandran

Sanchita Balachandran currently serves as the Director of the Museum Conservation Institute at the Smithsonian Institution, a position held since April 2024. Prior to this role, Sanchita was the Director and Conservator of The Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum from December 2022 to January 2024 and has held multiple academic positions at The Johns Hopkins University, including Associate Teaching Professor and Senior Lecturer. In addition to academic achievements, Sanchita founded and directed Untold Stories, a nonprofit organization active from 2017 to 2023. Between 2005 and 2015, Sanchita worked as an art conservator specializing in archaeological materials at Objects Conservation Studio. Sanchita's educational background includes a PhD in Preservation Studies from the University of Delaware, an MA in Art History from New York University, and a BA in Art History from Pomona College.