Mark Dessauer

Communications Director

Office: 919-843-3077
Fax: 919-843-3083
mark_dessauer@unc.edu

Job Focus

Responsible for all communication related activities including the website, extranet, publications and presentations, newsletter, graphic design, media messages, social marketing, media relations and communication training and support for the office and community partnerships.

Why am I working at Active Living By Design?

When I moved to Durham from Washington DC, my wife and I looked for a neighborhood which was walkable and close to destinations of interest (Duke, 9th Street, local parks and restaurants). We ended up in Old West Durham (www.owdna.org) . This seemed like a natural decision for me and I did not recognize the health impact of this decision or how few choices to be physically active people have in most communities. What I saw as a way of life growing up (walking to school and friends homes, playing outside until you could here your mom’s voice calling you in for dinner) became a life long habit. I used to walk to work in Washington DC and used my car once every two weeks thanks to a great public transportation system and an extremely walkable city. Working with Active Living By Design has helped me recognize that active living should not be a luxury but a right of everyone.

Bio

Mark Dessauer serves as the communications director for Active Living By Design, providing strategic direction on areas such as program development, communications technical assistance to grantees, printed materials, Web site, and media relations efforts. He has over ten years' experience working in strategic communications, media relations, creative direction, and policy development in the nonprofit sector, primarily in communications and health areas. Before joining Active Living By Design, Mr. Dessauer was communications director and policy analyst for the North Carolina Progress Board. Prior positions include Research Associate for the Global Information Infrastructure Commission at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC. Mr. Dessauer's previous diverse career spans many countries and occupations, including serving the Foreign Commercial Service in the US Embassy in Switzerland (with Top Secret clearance), working in a margarine factory in Cincinnati, teaching English in Prague and as an Assistant Director (and many other tasks) for the feature film Bottom Feeders.

Mr. Dessauer earned a BA in Mass Communication with minors in German and Film Studies from Miami University and an MA in International Communications from American University. He is currently pursuing a Certificate in Documentary Studies at Duke University.