Paula Cleggett

Paula Cleggett is the associate director for policy at the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy.  After serving as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s deputy associate administrator for public affairs for six years, she joined Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations in Washington, DC, primarily supporting the Curb Center.

She manages the Curb Center’s major initiative, the Arts Industries Policy Forum.  A seminar series for senior Congressional and Administration staff, the Forum examines public policy issues affecting the arts industry.  Cleggett monitors and reports on federal policy, legislative and regulatory actions that impact the national arts/cultural scene.

In addition, Cleggett administers the internship component of the Curb Scholars Program in Creative Enterprise & Public Leadership.  She developed an internship program that allows Curb Scholars to enrich their field of study, witness how public policies are shaped, and embrace the local creative community.  Through her guidance, the interns meet public leaders and entrepreneurs on the leading edge of creativity and innovation.

Her public affairs activities involve a variety of DC organizations, including the news media, think tanks, national associations, philanthropic organizations, the Executive Branch, and Congress.

Cleggett’s experience with the arts covers a wide spectrum.  During her time at NASA, she worked with the arts and entertainment industries, including the IMAX Corporation in the production of large-format space movies as well as Hollywood studios in creating space-themed feature movies, such as Space Cowboys and Deep Impact.  Cleggett’s experience at NASA also included the management of NASA’s extensive fine arts program, a collection of hundreds of specially commissioned paintings.  Under her leadership, the collection was expanded to include poetry, musical compositions, and Web art.

Cleggett received a bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and a master’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Email: paula.cleggett@vanderbilt.edu