Michael Schoenfeld, Immediate Past Chair

About Michael

Michael is a partner at Brunswick Group, a leading critical issues advisory firm, where he advises clients on a range of critical issues with a focus on higher education institutions and academic medical centers.

Previously, Michael was Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations at Duke University, where he oversaw communications and advocacy for the university and medical center, the university’s Washington, DC, center, and served as Duke’s chief spokesperson. He is also an adjunct lecturer in the Sanford School of Public Policy, where he teaches a course on media and politics.

As the chief external affairs strategist for 14 years, Michael directed Duke’s efforts to connect with local, regional, national and global audiences, represented the university before a wide range of constituencies, and oversaw crisis and issues management.  He came to Duke from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where he was vice chancellor for public affairs from 1997-2008.

Michael previously served as senior vice president for policy and public affairs at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in Washington, D.C., and has also  held reporting and leadership positions at the Voice of America radio and TV network.

A leader in professional and civic affairs, Michael is chairman of the WUNC Board of Directors and a member of the PBS-NC board of trustees. He previously chaired the boards of the Durham Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Transportation Alliance, the Durham Cultural Advisory Board and the Durham Public Library.

Michael graduated from Duke in 1984 and received a master’s degree in public policy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1986.  He and his wife Elizabeth live in Washington, DC.