Joseph Walsh Adjunct Instructor School of Communication
- Degrees
- MPA, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government; BA, Political Science, College of the Holy Cross
- Bio
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Joe Walsh is strategist and advisor with experience in politics, government and communications at the national, state and local level. Joe is currently Senior Advisor for external affairs at Teach For America, and previously led national communication and public affairs. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, where he served 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 with the advocacy community.
Joe has worked at the intersection of policy, politics and communications throughout his career, and in a wide range of 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 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. He was also a candidate for the Massachusetts legislature.
Joe began his career in civic education, first at the Close-Up Foundation teaching government, politics and civic engagement, and later with the education program at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Teaching
Spring 2020
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COMM-639 Political Communication
Fall 2020
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COMM-439 Political Communication