Nakyung Rhee joined NASAA in 2020 as a research fellow, progressing to research associate in 2021 and research manager in 2025. Her work centers on data-driven research into state arts agency budgets and grants, aiming to inform policies, funding decisions and strategic planning for state arts agencies. She oversees comprehensive surveys and evaluations to support these efforts.
Specializing in arts management and cultural policy, Nakyung’s research expertise lies at the intersection of arts and health, with a particular focus on creative aging and lifelong arts engagement. She has contributed to nonprofit arts organizations through research and data management, including her work with Snow City Arts in Chicago, a nonprofit that delivers arts and educational programs to children in hospitals. Nakyung holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in arts administration, education and policy from The Ohio State University, with a focus on cultural policy, arts management and aging studies. She earned a B.A. in business administration with a minor in art history from Ewha Womans University in South Korea.
