James J. Hardy

Fulcrum Fellows

2021 - 2022

Focus Area:
Community and Economic DevelopmentPhilanthropy
2020-2021_fulcrum_fellows_james_joseph_hardy
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Senior Program Officer
Akron, Ohio

James J. Hardy, MPH, is a Senior Program Officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. During his time in the Fulcrum Fellowship, he served as Deputy Mayor for Integrated Development at the City of Akron, Ohio. In this role, James managed all aspects of City development including urban planning and design, business retention and expansion, economic policy, downtown operations, recreation and parks, and elements of engineering. James is passionate about legacy cities, and the unique opportunities and challenges within them. When not at the office, James enjoys taking his two rescue dogs to the park with his wife, Chrissy, and children, Sophia and Will, or cheering on his beloved Cleveland sports teams.