Matthew E. Berger oversees programs addressing anti-Semitic incidents, anti-Israel activity and security concerns on college campuses around the world. He works with teams focused on educating and engaging Jewish students and broader campus communities on Israel, anti-Semitism and responding to incidents targeting the Jewish and pro-Israel community. He also oversees all aspects of Hillel’s communications and media strategy, including media relations, and serves as Hillel’s chief spokesman.
He comes to the position with nearly two decades of experience as a journalist and communications professional. Before joining Hillel International, he served as senior director of communications for a Middle East policy think tank, placing scholarly research in the media and managing communication products and social media. Berger also spent five years as vice president of Dezenhall Resources, a Washington-based crisis communications firm. He advised clients on a wide range of media strategy, provided litigation support and trained corporate executives and spokespeople for media appearances, including on “60 Minutes.”
During the 2008 presidential campaign cycle, Berger was a political reporter for NBC News and National Journal. He traveled with several candidates on their planes and buses, shooting video, reporting for blogs and appearing on NBC News and MSNBC. He was also a former correspondent for Congressional Quarterly and a national political correspondent for JTA.
Berger holds a master’s degree in national security policy and a bachelor’s degree in political communications, both from the George Washington University. He is a former board member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and resides in Washington with his husband, Jeff.