Jennifer Schantz is a cultural leader with nearly two decades of experience strengthening museums and libraries and expanding their visibility, relevance, and impact. Before entering the cultural sector, she practiced law at a major firm and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Schantz held several senior leadership roles at the New-York Historical Society, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. There, she helped guide significant institutional growth and created the Citizenship Project, which provides free civics education using art from the museum’s collections.

As Executive Director of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Schantz increased fundraising by 60%, secured more than $14 million, created the Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab and the largest outdoor reading room in New York City and introduced innovative programs that broadened the library’s reach.

Since becoming Executive Director of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in 2023, she has advanced its artistic vision, international presence, community programming, collections, and long-term strategic growth. Under her leadership, The Carle has presented or will present a robust slate of exhibitions featuring Marlo Thomas’ Free to Be: You and Me, The Story of Ferdinand, The Precious Things We Share: The Past, Present and Future of Indigenous Picture Book Art, and Eric Carle’s Modernist Inspirations, traveled exhibitions to the Middle East and Japan, expanded community-centered evening and summer
programming and acquired major works, including the cover illustration of Jerry Pinkney’s Caldecott Winning The Lion and the Mouse.

A classically trained flutist and piccolo player, Schantz studied at Juilliard Pre-College and performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.