The New York Times-20080124-A Museum Director Leaves the Smithsonian- -Brief-

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A Museum Director Leaves the Smithsonian; [Brief]

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Paul G. Risser, acting director at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, is to step down on Friday after nine months in the job. Mr. Risser, a biologist, will return to his position as chairman of the University of Oklahoma Research Cabinet. I came here originally for a six-month period, and that has stretched longer, Mr. Risser, 68, said. He replaced Cristian Samper in April, when Mr. Samper was named acting secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Samper succeeded Lawrence M. Small, who resigned in March after an investigation into his personal spending. While Mr. Risser was acting director, the Smithsonian Regents, its governing body, debated the appropriateness of accepting a $5 million donation for its Ocean Initiative from the American Petroleum Institute, prompting the institute to withdraw the offer.