Jonathan Norris serves as the Senior Economic Data Scientist at the Patterson Family Foundation, where he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on economic theory, forecasting, data visualization, and the complex web of interconnected systems underpinning the state and national economic landscapes to the team. Since joining the Foundation in early 2025, Jonathan has been a key driver of expanding and enhancing the degree to which the team uses timely, real-world data to derive key insights, set strategy, and understand the varied communities across the catchment and beyond. His work focuses on developing and implementing data dashboards and models to foster deeper understanding of the catchment, its strengths, and areas of opportunity for philanthropic grantmaking.
Jonathan is passionate about building stronger communities and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed and prosper, beginning with his service in the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the Marine Corps in 2019, Jonathan attained a BS in Economics and MS in Informatics from Emporia State University. He then held the position of Research Economist at Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research from 2022-2025.
He lives in Overland Park, Kansas with his partner, Abbey, and their cat. In his free time, Jonathan is a writer and amateur astronomer, and he enjoys spending time reading and playing tabletop games with friends.
“To me, a thriving rural community is one that leverages the unique opportunities afforded by a rural environment, addresses the challenges brought on by the same, and has all the elements needed to make it a good place to live. Thriving rural communities are ones where a tight web of personal connections drives strong personal stake and investment in the community’s success, and where scarcities of funding, services, housing, workforce, or opportunity do not prevent them from flourishing or keep people from pursuing their dreams, not just now, but for the long term.
What I want to ensure is always remembered is that no plan for the growth of our state and country is complete without a broad consideration for how we ensure opportunity and prosperity growth seen in urban hubs is not lost to rural communities that are home to nearly half the population, an unfortunately pervasive trend over the past 50 years. I aim to do better, and my role here at the Patterson Family Foundation enables me to be involved firsthand in the work to build a stronger present and future that extends these better outcomes to all.”
