Jessica M. Payne, PhD | Resume

Community Engagement and Research Specialist

30+ years collaborating with innovators and organizations seeking to connect with, understand, and uplift the diverse communities they serve.
Creative leader and team member committed to expanding engagement, equity, access, and opportunity for all
Established researcher with a proven record in design, implementation, and analysis of high-insight qualitative and quantitative studies that assess needs, measure impact, identify improvements, and inform development of program frameworks and rubrics.
Innovative systems thinker and relationship builder who understands alignment and scaffolding for high performance, mission-focused programs, partnerships, and services.
Engaging and articulate educator, manager, and communicator, with moderate fluency working in Spanish.

Professional Experience

Broadsight (formerly Jessica Payne Consulting)
Founder + Lead Consultant

Impact evaluation and program development for societal change
1988 - Present, Amherst, MA

Transformational impact evaluation and community engagement in for profit and non-profit sectors to propel research-informed organizational growth and engagement, systems change and innovation, retention and replication, training, and network learning.

Specialization in mixed-methods research and training, and a promotional, social justice approach to improve organizational, program, and community processes and outcomes.

Leadership in innovative program development, needs assessment and impact evaluation, research design and training, project management, and system change efforts to broaden impact and efficacy

Ethnographic research and program development with cultural and arts organizations to inform educational programs on regional, ethnic, and refugee community culture, performance, and the arts.

Clients include federal, state, regional, and community organizations in the community development, education, healthcare, cultural, arts, and marketing sectors.

StopHazing
Senior Prevention and Evaluation Specialist

A national resource for hazing research, education, and prevention
2013-2019, Orono, ME

Strategic planning, program development, evaluation, and fundraising to promote healthy social norms and youth leadership development in hazing research and prevention with federal, state, and regional institutions in K-12 and undergraduate education, the military, and community theater.

Collaborative leadership of the Hazing Prevention Consortium--a cohort of college campuses developing system-wide, data-informed prevention initiatives, including:

Co-development of the first data-informed Hazing Prevention Framework^©.
Cohort recruitment and retention and design and delivery of technical assistance, online trainings, and hands-on research and practice resources.
Evaluation of prevention strategies and public dissemination of findings.

Public Health Institute of Western Mass
Senior Research Associate

Regional partners for health equity
2016, Springfield, MA

Collaborative leadership of program assessment and evaluation with public health partner organizations to improve equity and access to programs and resources among minoritized populations.

Design and delivery of program evaluations to measure and report on processes, outcomes, and areas for continued improvement.

Provision of technical assistance and educational workshops to train regional staff in rigorous program evaluation.

Historical Society of Rockland County, NY
Director of Folklife Programs

Engaging diverse audiences in dynamic dialogue on the county's historical heritage
1990-1995, New City, NY

Ethnographic research on regional cultural heritage, art, and performance. Curation of exhibit public events and design and delivery of educational programs regarding to contribute to regional cultural and community development.

Brooklyn Arts Council
Director of Folk Arts Programs

Supporting Brooklyn's artists to create one of the most innovative cities in the world
1991-1992, Brooklyn, NY

Research for and curation of performing arts programs on Brooklyn community heritage, art, and performance, and technical assistance to support program development for cultural organizations and funding for artists.

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Interim Director of Folk Arts

Art is the Anchor of our community

1991-1992, Brooklyn, NY

Administration of state grants program supporting traditional and folk artists. Research for and curation of state exhibits; technical assistance to support program development for cultural organizations and funding for artists.

Mass Cultural Council
Folklife and Ethnic Arts Program Assistant

Elevating culture as essential to the health and vitality of the Commonwealth

1987, Brooklyn, NY

Administration of grants program and oversight of state and regional initiatives to support and develop regional, ethnic, and refugee culture and community.

Education

New York University, Performance Studies / Ph.D.

1993-2000, New York, NY Dissertation: Making Culture Public: Grassroots Community Collaboration and Ethnic Heritage in Portland, Maine. Full merit scholarship.

New York University, Performance Studies / M.A.

1989-1993, New York, NY Thesis: Public Folklore and the State: The Politics of Tradition. Full merit scholarship. Awarded prize for distinguished master's thesis.

Hampshire College, Cultural Anthropology / B.A.

1982-1986, Amherst, MA

Select Publications

Inclusive Creative Placemaking Through Participatory Mural Design in Springfield (MA). Lara Sucupira Furtado and Jessica M. Payne, Journal of the American Planning Association, Volume 88, Issue no 3 2022.

Fresh Paint Springfield 2019: Public Art and Economy in the Renaissance of a Massachusetts City, Jessica M. Payne and Lara S. Furtado, UMass Design Center and Common Wealth Murals, Amherst MA, 2019.

College Student Hazing Experiences, Attitudes, and Perceptions: Implications for Prevention. Elizabeth J. Allan, David Kerschner and Jessica M. Payne, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56:1, 32-48, 2019.

Hazing Prevention Toolkit for Campus Professionals, with Elizabeth Allan and David Kerschner. Clery Center, Washington, DC and StopHazing, Orono, ME., 2016.

“We Don’t Haze” Companion Briefs and Activity Guides, with Elizabeth Allan and David Kerschner. Clery Center, Washington, DC and StopHazing, Orono, ME, 2016.

Transforming the Culture of Hazing: A Research-Based Hazing Prevention Framework. Elizabeth J. Allan, Jessica M. Payne and David Kerschner, Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 2018.

Working Together for Equitable Student Outcomes: State of the Frontier Set. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2018 (data and analysis for report provided by JPC through VentureWell)

Innovator Insights: Illuminating the Path for Tomorrow’s Inventors. VentureWell, Hadley MA, 2018 (Includes content, themes, analysis by JPC).

Negotiating Peer Mentoring Roles in Undergraduate Research Lab Settings. Becky Packard, Vincenza Marciano, Jessica Payne, Leszek Bledzki and Craig Woodard. Mentoring and Tutoring: Partnership in Learning. Routledge Press, 2014.

The Politicization of Culture in Applied Folklore. Journal of Folklore Research, Special Issue on Applied Folklore, 1998, 35: 3.