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Chay Rao

Director, Strategic Communications & Public Relations
American University School of Public Affairs

Chay Rao is the Director of Strategic Communications & PR at the School of Public Affairs at American University. In this role, he leads a team of communications and marketing professionals to develop and implement creative programs, integrating content across digital and print platforms into a holistic strategy that highlights SPA’s achievements and research, drives inquiries and enrollment in graduate programs, all while also managing and protecting SPA’s brand. SPA’s communications and marketing campaigns have increased visibility to peer institutions and students, resulting in a rise to #10 overall in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of Graduate Public Affairs Institutions (up four places in three years) as well as increased interest and enrollment in SPA’s graduate programs year over year since 2019.


Prior to joining American University, Chay worked in communications roles across many industries, from a Fortune 50 company to a major organization in the non-profit sector, in a multinational law firm, and as a reporter and editor. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.