Jennifer Novak-Leonard

Jennifer Novak-Leonard is a Research Associate Professor and Director of the Arts Impact Initiative at the University of Illinois's College of Fine and Applied Arts. Her work focuses on the societal roles of arts and creativity, measuring cultural participation's impacts, and addressing inequities in arts access. She leads the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) and has advised major institutions like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) on policy and research.

Education:

• PhD in Policy Analysis, RAND Graduate School
• Masters of Public Policy, University of Chicago
• BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Interests: Dr. Novak-Leonard specializes in developing novel measurement systems for cultural participation, analyzing the intrinsic and extrinsic impacts of arts experiences, and advocating for cultural democracy. Her work intersects public policy, social equity, and creative economies. Recent efforts include redesigning the NEA's Survey of Public Participation in the Arts and studying pandemic impacts on cultural sectors.

Grants & Leadership:

• Principal Investigator for NEA Research Lab (2016–2020)
• Co-PI for Central Illinois’ Cultural Assets Mapping Project
• Board Vice President and Research Director at SNAAP

Labs/Teams: Directs the Arts Impact Initiative, collaborating with the NEA, Doris Duke Foundation, and others to translate research into actionable policy. Leads SNAAP's expansive alumni tracking initiative.