Matt Charles

For over two decades, Matt Charles has provided strategic and crisis communications services for a number of nonprofits, government organizations, small businesses and startups, as well as higher education and online learning consulting.

A former spokesperson for the University of Virginia during the tragic events of August 11th and 12th in Charlottesville, Charles not only understands how to navigate crises, he knows how to engage with stakeholders through persuasion and influence techniques rooted in cognitive science to advance your brand. Stakeholders are both internal and external and include employees, shareholders, customers, media, donors, grantmakers, students and governments. Given that strategic communications weaves into strategy and operations, more often than not Charles has been asked to provide counsel on these critical aspects of the organization.

Years of on-the-ground work and case study teaching at top-tier graduate schools that include Purdue University, Georgetown University and the University of Virginia has helped Charles understand what it takes to help influence positively stakeholder behavior, improve community relationships, maintain a solid reputation for your organization and help you navigate crises with an objective perspective.

Charles is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and holds his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) certification — a mark of distinction, results-oriented outcomes and ethics in the public relations industry.

In May 2021, Charles was presented Georgetown University’s Tropaia Outstanding Faculty Award for excellence in teaching. In August 2018, Charles was appointed to the Fulbright Specialist Communications and Journalism roster — a unique opportunity for U.S. academics and established professionals to engage in two- to six-week, project-based exchanges at host institutions across the globe.

As a former New York City special investigator working sex and drug crimes involving children, Charles can work under high-stakes pressure. He recently had a book published based on case studies from his crisis and risk management work titled, "Shit Show: An Unexpected Life in Crisis and Risk Management."