We are proud to announce that Dr. Jeana Holt has been selected as a Fellow in the inaugural Midwest LEADRS (Leadership Education to Advance Diversity in Research and Scholarship) cohort.
Dr. Holt brings a distinctive interdisciplinary perspective grounded in community partnership, lived experience, and scholarship at the intersection of autism, creativity, and inclusive learning environments. Her work centers on advancing health equity by valuing diverse forms of knowledge, particularly those shaped through varied lived experiences and collaboration with communities impacted by social determinants of health.
As a researcher and educator, Dr. Holt leads co-designed, arts-based research that positions autistic youth not as subjects, but as knowledge holders, creative agents, and collaborators. This work challenges traditional deficit-based models and instead emphasizes strengths, agency, and belonging, key drivers of both mental and physical well-being.
Through long-standing partnerships with community organizations, including Islands of Brilliance, as well as artists, families, and interdisciplinary researchers, and in her role as Research Director and PI of the National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab, the Autism Brilliance Lab for Entrepreneurship (ABLE), she has developed innovative approaches that highlight the role of creativity and social connection as protective factors against structural inequities. Her work bridges education, health, and the arts, integrating participatory and mixed-methods approaches that honor narrative, relational knowledge, and community expertise.
As part of the Midwest LEADRS program, Dr. Holt aims to deepen her expertise in social determinants of health (SDOH), implementation science, and translational research, strengthening the connection between inclusive learning environments and long-term health outcomes. She looks forward to collaborating with a diverse network of leaders to advance community-driven, equity-focused research and practice.
We celebrate this milestone and look forward to the continued impact of Dr. Holt’s leadership in advancing inclusive, community-engaged approaches to health and well-being.