Jennifer Leclerc (’22)
Jennifer Leclerc is a creative and resourceful arts administrator with over 30 years experience. Jen is the Associate Director of the School of Fashion Design, where she directs enrollment marketing and strategic advancement of the organization. She also manages the School’s creative workshop and continuing education program. In her adopted home city of Melrose, Jen founded the arts and cultural capacity building nonprofit Melrose Creative Alliance, which connects creative Melrosians with one another and with resources to power a vibrant community. An active community volunteer, Jen was one of the original co-hosts of the Let’s Talk Melrose, Melrose public access TV show, and is Deputy City Coordinator for Destination Imagination, a K-12 STEAM education program for kids. She also directed a public art project to commemorate the site of Melrose’s first minority owned downtown business. In 2020, Jen was the Project Manager for “Marking Lives COVID-19,” a national crowd-sourced digital community art memorial commemorating lives lost to the pandemic. Earlier in her career, Jen managed public relations for the City of San José, CA and its 925,000 residents. She also managed communications at cultural policy think tank Cultural Initiatives Silicon Valley. CISV’s vision for a broad and deep integration of the arts in Silicon Valley included work in K-12 arts education, community arts participation, and business leadership in the arts. Jen holds a Masters Degree in Arts Administration from Boston University and a BFA in Writing, Literature & Publishing from Emerson College.
When decided among programs, a trusted peer advised, “choose whichever program will help you develop the best network.” With its focus on culling from Greater Boston industry talent for guest lectures, and its mission of strengthening the arts and cultural sector locally and abroad, it was clear from the start this would be the BU MET’s Arts Administration program. I’ve already made some great and genuine connections in my field, and am already better positioned.