Pete Mackey, Ph.D.

A Proven Leader in Strategic Communications

Pete Mackey brings more than 30 years of experience in leadership roles at private and public institutions across the U.S. and Europe. As the founder and principal consultant of Mackey Strategies, Pete has dedicated his career to helping educational and nonprofit institutions define their identities, sharpen their messages, and achieve their strategic goals.

With expertise in institutional planning, campaign communications, team building, and perceptions research, Pete has guided organizations to create meaningful connections with their audiences while delivering measurable returns on investment. From multi-billion-dollar fundraising campaigns to admissions marketing that drove a 40% increase in applications in one year, Pete’s impact spans every aspect of communications and institutional advancement.

Transformational Leadership

Pete has served as the top communications executive at leading institutions, including Amherst College, Bucknell University, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Science Foundation Ireland, and the University of South Carolina. In these roles, he built and transformed communications operations, developing strategies that reshaped how institutions engage with their stakeholders.

Throughout his career, Pete has led initiatives that include:

• Shaping communications for campaigns ranging from $40 million to $2 billion

• Building admissions marketing strategies that significantly boosted applications

• Overseeing website construction and redesigns for numerous organizations

• Leading institutional rebrands for private companies, foundations, and colleges

• Inaugurating innovative speaker series and events, such as a literary arts festival

Author and Innovator

In 2016, Pete founded Mackey Strategies to provide strategic communications and leadership services for colleges, universities, and nonprofits. As principal consultant, Pete partners closely with clients to evaluate and clarify their ideas, crafting authentic messaging that drives strategic impact.

In 2018, Pete created The Future Sessions, a three-day leadership bootcamp designed for higher education and nonprofit communications professionals. Held biannually, the program equips participants with the skills and strategies to master communications planning and execution. Participants from institutions across the U.S. leave with actionable tools to lead their teams and advance their missions.

Pete’s thought leadership extends beyond consulting. He is the author of numerous essays and two books:

• How to Change the Future: Lessons from Ireland on Revolutionizing Scientific Innovation and Economic Prosperity (Strategic News Service, 2023), co-authored with Dr. William C. Harris

• Chaos Theory and James Joyce’s Everyman (University Press of Florida, 1999)

Pete is a frequent public speaker for professional associations and serves as a senior investment partner in EdTech Connect, America’s leading source for educational technologies.

Education and Expertise

Pete earned his Ph.D. in 20th-century British literature and literary theory from the University of South Carolina, where he taught in the South Carolina Honors College. He also holds an M.A. in film studies and a B.A. in English and legal studies from Case Western Reserve University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in just four years.

Grounded in a deep commitment to intellectual rigor and strategic thinking, Pete approaches every challenge with curiosity, clarity, and a results-driven mindset. His ability to connect complex ideas with real-world solutions allows him to support leaders and institutions as they navigate change, seize opportunities, and create lasting impact. At his core, Pete values thoughtful collaboration, integrity, and the transformative power of education to shape stronger communities and institutions.