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Photograph of Joseph Walsh

Joseph Walsh Adjunct Instructor School of Communication

Degrees
MPA, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government; BA, Political Science, College of the Holy Cross

Bio
Joe Walsh is political strategist and advisor with experience in government, policymaking, politics, and communications at the national, state and local level.  He has taught Political Communication, The Presidency and Executive Branch, and Applied Politics and American Public Policy.

He is currently Senior Advisor for External Affairs and Strategy at Teach For America, and previously led national communication and public affairs.

In President Barack Obama’s Administration, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, serving as an advisor to Secretary Arne Duncan on political and strategic communications issues and led the Department’s state and local engagement efforts with governors, mayors, legislators, chief state school officers and the advocacy community.

Joe has worked at the intersection of policy, politics, and communications throughout his career, and in a wide range of policy issues including education, workforce development, and economic and community development. Prior to joining the Obama Administration, he was Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy for the United States Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, served in Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty’s cabinet as Director of the Department of Employment Services, and in Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s administration as Director of Policy and Planning in the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. He was chief of staff to the Mayor of Salem, Massachusetts, and later director of the city’s planning and community development department. Under President Bill Clinton, he was education director of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.

Joe has also played key roles in several high-profile political campaigns and advocacy efforts, and as a consultant providing political, policy and strategic communications guidance, working intensively with policy makers and advocates on complex policy and communications issues in a challenging political environment.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Spring 2023

  • COMM-639 Political Communication

Fall 2023

  • GOVT-652 Presidency & Executive Branch

  • GOVT-656 Voting Behav,Electns& Campgns