Shelly C. Lowe, a scholar of higher education and the first Native American to lead the agency, was appointed by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

The National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Shelly Lowe, the first Native American to hold that job, was ousted Wednesday by the Trump administration, according to agency spokesperson Paula Wasley.

Shelly C. Lowe, the first Native American to lead the federal agency, was nominated by Joe Biden and held the role for just over three years

The departure comes as President Donald Trump seeks to dramatically reshape cultural institutions that the White House controls.

Shelly C. Lowe , the chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Shelly C. Lowe left her position on Wednesday “at the direction of President Donald Trump,” the agency said in a statement.

President Trump directed National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chair Shelly Lowe to step down from her role, which she has now done, an agency spokesperson confirmed Thursday morning. The