Michael Cowan

Vice President, Communications

Michael Cowan has more than 30 years of experience in a career spanning journalism, higher education, consulting and strategic communications for mission-driven organizations.

Recent career highlights include serving for a decade as Director, Strategic Communications at The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), where projects he led were recognized with numerous awards, including for video production, exhibits, publishing and graphic design. Previously, Michael held communications positions at the International Rescue Committee and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Michael began his career as a broadcast journalist. He was a producer at NBC’s Today Show for over ten years, and was previously a member of the production teams for various programs at ABC News and CBS News, including Nightline, elections coverage, and Primetime Live. Over a period of nearly 20 years, Michael worked closely with many of the most well-known and highly respected members of the media. His work at the Today Show as part of the team covering the events of 9/11 was recognized with an Emmy Award.

Additionally, for more than a decade, Michael was a member of the adjunct faculty at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University and a visiting professor at the University of Barcelona. He also taught courses in broadcast journalism and strategic communications at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. Michael has also conducted seminars, workshops and consulted for international nonprofits and NGO’s in over a dozen countries on five continents, including in Indonesia, Mozambique, Kenya, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba.

Michael holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Yale University, an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University, and a certificate from Columbia University’s Executive program in Strategic Communications. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.