Matt Petronzio

Background

About Matt Petronzio

Matt Petronzio has more than 15 years of experience in digital communications, journalism, global marketing, and award-winning campaigns, with a demonstrated focus on social impact, human rights, and activism. He's currently the Deputy Chief Communications Officer at Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which brings medical care to people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics, and social exclusion while also bearing witness and speaking out on behalf of patients in more than 70 countries. At MSF USA, Matt is focused on communications strategy development, priority alignment, data-driven decision making, and digital innovation to increase the organization’s visibility and impact—all through the lens of upholding patients’ dignity and agency. Previously, Matt was the senior director of digital engagement at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), where he led a global team of 25 digital experts in charge of 30+ web and social channels, strategically leveraging organic digital media and client-centered storytelling to inspire supporters to do more, give more, and stay longer with the IRC. From 2018 to 2022, he was the global editorial director at Global Citizen, where he led the international advocacy organization's editorial strategies and team covering human rights, equality, environmental justice, and the movement to end extreme poverty. He was also the senior editor of Mashable's Social Good section, establishing the site's core coverage area surrounding social justice, identities, philanthropy, and world-changing innovation. Matt received his bachelor's degree in English literature and creative writing from Fordham University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and he holds an MFA in creative writing and poetry from Hunter College of The City University of New York. Matt has spoken about social impact and global innovation at a number of events, including the United Nations Summer Academy,+SocialGood UK, the Media for Social Impact Summit, SXSW Eco, Earth to Paris at COP21, and Blackbaud Con. He served on the Leadership Council of the Classy Awards for social innovation and as a judge for Tom's of Maine's 50 States for Good initiative. Muck Rack highlighted Matt as a standout journalist writing on social change, and CauseVox called him "a journalist you simply cannot miss."