Mohja Rhoads leads NASAA’s research team, delivering high-quality data and insights to support state and jurisdictional arts agencies. She oversees an extensive research portfolio that includes dynamic data visualization tools, comprehensive field surveys, and economic, revenue and grant databases. Her work provides customized research solutions tailored to the evolving needs of state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.
In addition to managing research initiatives, Mohja represents state arts agencies and NASAA at national and regional research forums. She serves as NASAA’s primary liaison to organizations and agencies conducting studies on public funding for the arts, fostering collaboration and ensuring the effective use of data to advocate for the arts nationwide.
Mohja has extensive experience in planning research and policy. Prior to joining NASAA, she worked as a researcher studying telework and big data applications for transportation in partnership with California State Dominguez Hills, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of Southern California (USC). As the senior research associate for The South Bay Cities Council of Governments, Mohja developed a South Bay greenhouse gas emissions tool and climate action plan for the South Bay using 10 years of data from several large-scale electric vehicle programs and local surveys. She has an M.A. in urban planning from UCLA and a Ph.D. in planning, policy and development from USC. Mohja loves everything about the arts. She plays the ukulele, sings and writes.
