Innovate@BU is excited to announce that Wendy Swart Grossman and Jen Guillemin, co-founders of Creative Re/Frame, will join the BUild Lab team as the first Creative Practitioners-In-Residence from September 2020 through March 2021. 

Throughout their careers and at Creative Re/Frame, Swart Grossman and Guillemin help their clients infuse imagination, creativity, and innovation into their practices with a goal of developing holistic, human-centered approaches to learning, living, and working. They partner with educational institutions, municipalities and organizations to reimagine the schools, cities, and jobs of the future. 

Individually, they bring a unique set of experiences that will help BU students consider innovation and entrepreneurship through the lens of creativity, social impact, and civic engagement opportunities. Guillemin has a background in arts leadership, counseling, and teaching, and has mentored thousands of student-artists in her roles at Boston University and Northeastern University. Swart Grossman’s background ranges from roles in US and South African presidential campaigns, Harvard’s Museum of Science and Culture, The Science Museum of London, and as a strategic planner for a variety of mission-driven organizations. Swart Grossman is also an  adjunct lecturer at BU teaching Cultural Entrepreneurship in Metropolitan College’s  Graduate Program in Arts Administration. 

Innovate@BU celebrates and supports innovation of all types, including business ventures, nonprofits, community projects, and more–its team is thrilled that this partnership will provide additional resources and creative thought partners for its community members.

In this capacity, they will serve as strategic directors of Innovate@BU’s IDEA Conference 2021, premier regional student innovation and entrepreneurship conference to be held on February 27, 2021, with a focus of further integrating creativity and arts entrepreneurship into the event. 

Additionally, they will hold office hours with BU students and alumni cultural entrepreneurs, present workshops, and facilitate creative conversations in support of Innovate@BU’s mission to enable all BU Terriers to be drivers of innovation in their lives, careers, and communities.

Wendy Swart Grossman

With a background in US and South African presidential campaigns – clarity, communication and deadlines are Wendy’s strength. As a Creative Practitioner and Consultant Wendy brings her expertise in building effective partnerships, strategic planning, board development, measurable outcomes, communication, and workshop facilitation to the table. Wendy is a connecter, a political and community organizer, a logistical wizard, and a visionary advocate/activist for community building and engagement. She has held positions at Harvard’s Museum of Science and Culture and the Graduate School of Design as well as The Science Museum in London, UK and scores of NGO’s, non-profits and social impact businesses nationally and internationally. She is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Boston University within their Graduate Arts Administration Program.

Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from St. Olaf College and a master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University.

Jen Guillemin

With a background in arts leadership, counseling and teaching, Jen is an arts advocate and creative problem-solver. She has mentored thousands of student-artists and has spearheaded many arts initiatives. She is currently on the Northeastern University faculty, teaching and mentoring art + design students in their world renowned co-op program. Previous to that, she served as inaugural director of the Boston University arts leadership and innovation program, interim director of the BU School of Visual Arts and founding director of the BU Visual Arts Summer Institute. Jen has expertise in higher education administration, building effective partnerships, strategic visioning, curriculum development and cross sector collaboration. Her professional collaborations have led her to teach in prisons and homeless shelters, to create community engaged projects in Boston and to publish research on cultural entrepreneurship and the creative economy. Jen’s passion is to help people identify and focus personal values, creative interests and unique gifts in order to achieve their educational, professional and personal goals.

Jen holds a bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Geneseo and two master’s degrees in Arts Administration and Counseling from Boston University.

More Innovation, More Inspiration