The Smithsonian Institution announced on Monday that it has chosen an energetic fund-raiser and a forceful advocate of the arts and humanities as its new director: David J. Skorton, the president of Cornell University. Dr. Skorton, who is also a practicing cardiologist, was selected as secretary out of a starting field of 200 candidates by a unanimous vote of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents... Calling the job a “once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Dr. Skorton said he hoped to “shine a light more clearly on people behind the scenes” at the Smithsonian. He deferred laying out any other agenda or priorities, saying his...