Dr. Jonathan Kuuskoski

Biography

Jonathan Kuuskoski helps artists self-start careers as the Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and Director of the EXCEL Lab at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He oversees wide-ranging programming, extensive career advising, and a performing arts venture incubator that offers co-curricular training resources and funding opportunities to students. Under his leadership, the EXCEL Lab has grown exponentially over the decade, delivering over $1 million in direct student support and incubating 50 student ventures. Kuuskoski has significantly expanded the faculty and staff within his department and has increased curricular offerings, collaborating with leading arts organizations and institutions to enhance access to the professional world of performing arts for students. With more than 1,000 students participating annually in integrated professional development programs, he has established the department as a top-10 university entrepreneurship ecosystem. He has presented compelling research and talks at prestigious institutions and has been featured in several national media outlets. His recent publication examines the impact of business training on artists' labor market outcomes using U.S. Census Bureau data. He has previously worked at the University of Missouri and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, contributing to arts entrepreneurship education.

Research Interests