As Staffordshire University’s Research Impact Manager, I work closely with colleagues across the university and at all career stages, supporting them to achieve their impact goals and evidence their achievements. As a former Public Engagement (with Research) Fellow at Keele University (2017-18), I have a particular interest in public engagement in research as a pathway to impact. My role includes securing and managing impact funding, training, and coaching. I also play a key leadership role in managing the impact case study element of our REF submissions. I am Co-Director of the C3 Research Centre (Creative Industries and Creative Communities), and Chair of the Midlands Impact Group.
I am also an experienced academic, with a PhD in Social Gerontology (Keele University, 2011). I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and previously worked as a Senior Lecturer in Staffordshire University’s Creative Communities Unit. I taught students from Level 3 through to Level 7, including supervision of MA students, before moving on to an appointment as Senior Researcher 2013-15. My research interests are in ageing, arts engagement, cultural value, and community development. I am experienced in qualitative methodologies and creative and participatory approaches. I have a publication track record and have contributed to and led on successful funding bids. I was Principal Investigator on an Arts and Humanities Research Council Cultural Value project in 2014.
Professional memberships and activities
Association of Research managers and Administrators (ARMA)
Academic qualifications
- PhD ‘Creative Ageing: Exploring Social Capital and Arts Engagement in Later Life.’ Keele University
- Postgraduate Certificate in Higher and Professional Education (Distinction), Staffordshire University
- Graduate Certificate (Distinction) Community Practice (Community Arts Route), Staffordshire University
- BA Hons. (First Class) Applied Social Studies (Social Research Route), Staffordshire University
Expertise
- Research impact
- Public engagement in research
- Evaluation
- Qualitative research
- Creative and participatory research methods
Publications
Gratton, N. and Reynolds, J. (2021) Participatory evaluation for large scale arts programmes: Challenges, adaptations and unexpected shifts in culture. Research for All Journal, 6 (1). ISSN 2399-8121
Bernard, M. Ray, M. and Reynolds, J. (2020) The Evolution of British Gerontology. Bristol, Policy Press.
Reynolds, J. Bernard, M. and Ray, M. (2019) Being a Gerontologist: intersections between the professional and the personal in the Ageing of British Gerontology project. Ageing & Society, 41(5) pp.1-21 DOI:10.1017/S0144686X1900151X
Reynolds, J. (2018) Late-life creativity: methods for understanding arts-generated social capital in the lives of older people. In D.Amigoni and G. McMullan: Creativity in Later Life: Beyond Late Style. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 114-130. ISBN 978-1138293793
Reynolds, J. (2018) Crafting resilience for later life. In: Goulding, A. Davenport, B. and Newman, A. Resilience and ageing: Creativity, culture and community. Connected Communities. Policy Press, Bristol, pp. 181-201. ISBN 978-1447340911
Reynolds, J. (2015) Stories of Creative Ageing. Working with Older People, 19 (1) pp. 33-40