Jeff M. Poulin is an American educator, non-profit administrator, and social entrepreneur whose work is grounded in social justice and seeks transformative solutions to society’s most-challenging problems. He has built a career influencing change by leveraging systems, increasing civic participation, and improving cultural understanding through the pursuit of research, leadership development, and policy literacy. He hopes to be an agent of positive change for his community and the global cultural community.

Education

University of Glasgow (Scotland) - Master of Science - Advanced Educational Studies

University College Dublin (Ireland) - Master of Arts - Arts Management and Cultural Policy

  • Thesis: “Bridging the Gap between Arts in Education Policy and Implementation: A Methodological Study”

  • Second Class Honours, Grade 1 distinction.

Oklahoma City University (United States) - Bachelor of Science - Entertainment Business

  • Specialization: Nonprofit Presenting and Sponsoring; Minors in History and Business Entrepreneurship

  • Summa Cum Laude distinction; Presidential Scholar

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) - Leadership Management Certificate

Professional Experience

See Current Projects Here

Creative Generation - Founder & Managing Director - April 2019 - Present

  • Inspiring, connecting, & amplifying the work of young creatives catalyzing social change and the individuals committed to cultivating creative capabilities of young people.

  • Conducted original research and facilitated knowledges exchanges across the country and abroad, including at international events.

  • Principal consultant and project manager for multiple simultaneous funded projects for the Incubator for Creative Impact.

  • Developed and facilitated adult learning curricula focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, critical reflection, and futures thinking.

  • Managed international campaigns, collectively with 200+ partners on six continents, activating over 7.5m individuals.

Americans for the Arts - Arts Education Program Manager  - December 2013 – March 2019

  • Managed the Arts Education Program through two strategic plans, growing engagement by 500% and annual budget to $1+m.

  • Cultivated and maintained strategic partners relationships with arts, education and public/private sector national organizations.

  • Authored, published, and evaluated tools and resources to advance the arts education field nation-wide; list on next page.

  • Published curricula (with Dr. Stephanie Milling) on the topics of arts education leadership, ecosystem, and policy/advocacy.

  • Managed visibility efforts with national media, including the congressionally-designated National Arts in Education Week; 800+ events, reaching 65m+ people.

  • Served as Principal Investigator on national, first-of-their-kind research initiatives including the “12 Core Competencies of an Arts Education Leader” and the Creative Youth Development Toolkit.

  • Oversaw the development, launch, and staffing of national networks, including the State Education Policy Network, and others. 

  • Managed the organization’s role in 20+ national partnerships within the education and public sector, along with national collaborative initiatives such as the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards, Creative Youth Development National Partnership, Create Justice, and others.

  • Delivered keynote addresses and experiential workshops at 250+ events with audiences of 10,000+ from all 50 states annually.

  • Managed cross-departmental teams for large scale products, overseeing budgeting, fundraising development, marketing and communications, web design and technology, and operations.

 Dancers, Inc Competitions & Conventions - Director of Education - Dec. 2018 – Present

  • Managed regional dance production, adjudication, and educational events throughout the United States.

  • Produced national college preparatory program in conjunction with colleges, university, and leading faculty from across the nation.

Ultimate Dance Showcase UK - Director - February 2017 – March 2020

  • Managed national tour of dance education events throughout the UK, overseeing educator and student experience.

Live Nation UK/Ireland - Audience Development Officer - March – December 2013

  • Developed and implemented unprecedented 6-month audience development evaluation at the Bord Gàis Energy Theatre.

  • Launched community outreach and educational programming for elementary, secondary and higher education audiences. 

  • Managed a public relations and marketing portfolio for touring Broadway musicals, theatrical productions, and musical events.

Council of National Cultural Institutions - Conference Director - Dec. 2012 – March 2013

  • Produced national conference to advise the Minister’s from the departments of Education & skills and Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht.

Park Avenue Talent - Assistant Account Manager/PR Specialist - May 2012 – Dec. 2012

  • Produced live music performances in NYC, festivals around the U.S. and in several international locations.

  • Serves as public relations officer, coordinating press/media relations for the agency, artists, and venues; designed and implemented agency re-branding and integrated marketing campaigns. 

Friends of Jeff Riles 2012 - Campaign Coordinator - January - April 2012

  • Coordinated student engagement and fundraising events for state congressional campaign.

Oklahoma City University - Coordinator of Alumni Relations - Jan. - Dec. 2011

  • Developed and supported networks of alumni in major metropolitan regions as part of the national network.

Maine Youth Action Network - Youth Staff  - January 2006 – July 2008

  • Developed and implemented regional an statewide youth/adult partnership trainings for state agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Theatre-Dance, Inc / Portland Public Schools - Teaching Artist - Sept. 2004 – June 2008

Speaking & Higher Education

Carnegie Mellon University – Master of Arts Management - Adjunct Instructor                                      Mar. 2019 - Present

American University - Master of Arts Management - Adjunct Professorial Lecturer July 2020- Present

City College of New York - Master of Arts in Educational Theatre - Adjunct Professor January - May 2020

Selected Higher Education Guest Lectures

  • Center for Cultural and Creative Industries - Bath Spa University; Bath UK - 2020

  • MFA in Arts Leadership - Seattle University; Seattle, WA - 2020

  • Masters of Arts Entrepreneurship - Purchase College; Purchase, NY - 2020

  • School of Theatre and Dance - University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC - 2020

  • Education, Equity, and Advocacy Course - Georgetown Uiversity; Washington, D.C. - 2019

  • Arts Management Master’s Program - American University; Washington, D.C. - 2019

  • Students of Arts Management Guest Lecture Series - Oklahoma City University; Oklahoma City, OK - 2019

  • Arts Leadership Master’s Program - Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA - 2019

  • Department of Theatre and Dance - Ball State University; Muncie, IN - 2018

  • Classical Evolution/Revolution - Music Academy of the West; Santa Barbara, CA - 2018    

  • International Visitor Leadership Program - Institute for International Education; Wash., D.C. - 2018

  • Professional Arts Leadership and Management Performance Forum - Shenandoah University; Winchester, VA - 2016

  • Graduate Program in Educational Theatre - City College of New York; New York, NY - 2015

  • Masters of Arts in Arts Administration - Goucher College; Baltimore, MD - 2015

  • Thomas E. Bellavance Honors Program Lecture Series - Salisbury University; Salisbury, MD - 2014

  • Dirigo Talks - Saco Bay Center for Civic Engagement; Maine - 2014

  • Masters of Arts Management & Cultural Policy - University College Dublin; Dublin, Ireland - 2013

  • Students of Arts Management Guest Lecture Series - Oklahoma City University; Oklahoma City, OK - 2013

  • Arts Education Research Group - Trinity College; Dublin, Ireland - 2013

Having made over 300 presentations between 2005 – present, Jeff has addressed crowds ranging from classrooms to convention centers, ranging from 25 to 2,500. Whether workshop, panel, or keynote presentation, Jeff has presented on the following topics, and more:

  • Arts and Cultural Education

  • Education Policy (International, Federal, State, Local)

  • Cultural Policy (International, Domestic)

  • Arts Management

  • Servant Leadership

  • Youth & Adult Partnerships

See full list of Speaking Engagements here

Research & Publications

  • Social Justice Arts Education (SJAE): Towards an Integrated Approach - Arts Every Day - 2020

  • Responding to Crisis: Disruption and Innovation in Community-Based Arts Education Programs for Youth (Co-Editor) - Arts Education Policy Review - 2020

  • Building Pathways: A Strategy Towards Expanded Funding in the Creative Youth Development Field - Creative Youth Development National Partnership - 2020

  • How Funders Can Support Arts Education Despite COVID-19: A Report of Considerations and Recommendations - Creative Generation - 2020

  • Towards an Understanding of Gen C, the Creative Generation - World Alliance for Arts Education - 2019

  • Creative Youth Development Toolkit: Landscape Analyses - Creative Youth Development National Partnership - 2019

  • The 12 Core Competencies of an Arts Education Leader - Americans for the Arts - 2019

  • Cyclical Mentorship in Arts Education Leadership - Americans for the Arts - 2018

  • Dewey and the Role of the Arts in Education: On Policy and Practice - John Dewey Society (AERA) - 2016

  • Various Articles - ArtsLink - 2014-2019

  • ARTSblog (regular contributor) - Americans for the Arts - 2013-2019

  • Bridging the Gap between Arts in Education Policy & Implementation - MA Thesis at University College Dublin - 2013

  • Lighting A Fire: Responding to Ireland’s Arts in Education Policy - Council of National Cultural Institutions - 2013

See fullest of Research and Publications here

Awards & Recognition

  • Research Affiliate - Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) - 2021

  • Arts & Humanities Fellowship - DC Council on the Arts & the Humanities - 2020    

  • Innovator Fellow - International Teaching Artist Collaborative - 2020

  • Delegate for Creativity - World Youth Forum - 2019

  • Delegate - World Summit on Arts & Culture - 2017

  • 30 Under 30 - Oklahoma City University Alumni Association - 2016

  • TEDxBroadway - Young Professional Fellow - 2014

  • Outstanding Contribution from an International Student - Union of Students of Ireland - 2013

  • Leadership Award - Oklahoma City University - 2012

  • Service Award - Theta Psi Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity - 2012

  • Jeffrey Marc Poulin Student Leadership Award - Scarborough Board of Education - 2011

  • Appreciation Award - New England District of Key Club International - 2010

  • Scholarship-Leadership Award - Kappa Sigma Fraternity - 2009-2011

  • 50 Important People - Town of Scarborough, ME 450th Anniversary - 2008

  • George F. Hixson Fellow - Kiwanis International - 2007

  • National Titlist - Dancers, Inc. Competitions and Conventions - 2006

See full list of Awards & Recognition here

Volunteer & Board Service

  • Chair - Young & Emerging Leaders Forum - World Alliance for Arts Education - 2020

  • Conference Planning Committee - Association of Arts Administration Educators - 2019-20

  • Strategic Planning Committee - International Teaching Artist Collaborative - 2019

  • Board Chair - Dancing Classrooms DC - 2019-2022

  • Founder/President - Dancers, Inc Foundation - 2018-Present     

  • 50th Anniversary Planning Committee - Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Theta Psi) - 2017

  • Founding Board Member-at-Large - Innovation Collaborative - 2014-2019

  • Committee Chair - National Coalition for Core Arts Standards - 2014-2019

  • Member - Kiwanis International - 2011-Present

  • Big Brother - Big Brothers Big Sisters - 2010-2012

  • Founder/Board Member - Perform For A Cure - 2006-2012

Grant/Review Panels:

  • National Teaching Artist Credential - Young Audiences - 2020

  • New Jersey State Council on the Arts - 2019

  • ArtsEdSearch - Arts Education Partnership/Education Commission of the States - 2018

  • Institute for Museum & Library Services - 2018

  • Association of Science - Technology Centers - 2017

  • Massachusetts Cultural Council - 2016-2017

  • DC Commission on the Arts and the Humanities - 2015

  • Vans Custom Culture - 2014-2018