Michael Dannenberg

Education Policy Expert & Deputy Commissioner for Policy at Massachusetts Department of Higher Education; Former Senior Education Counsel to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy; Founder of PK-16 Education Policy Program at New America Foundation

Washington, DC, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info
College, Education, Education Reform, Educational Motivational, Government, Political, STEM, STEM Education
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Michael Dannenberg Biography

Michael Dannenberg is an education policy expert in the United States, with a career spanning Capitol Hill, the executive branch, think tanks, and state government. Dannenberg served as senior education counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, contributing to the drafting of the No Child Left Behind Act, the Education Finance Incentive Grant program, the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act, and the National Science Foundation Reauthorization Act. While working with Senators Kennedy and Pell, he played a lead role in developing and drafting two Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization laws and numerous provisions in higher education and appropriations law. He was the lead staff author of the "College Quality, Affordability, and Diversity Improvement Act," sponsored by Senator Kennedy. His work on Capitol Hill was recognized by National Journal, which named him to The Hill 100 list of Congress' most influential aides.

Dannenberg has served as a senior education adviser in Washington, D.C., collaborating with public officials such as former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Under Secretary Martha Kanter. At the U.S. Department of Education, he led efforts on teacher education, college completion, and student aid, including chairing an intra-agency task force on teacher education reform, supporting the development of the president's postsecondary education budget, and drafting the department's "College Completion Tool Kit."

Between government roles, Dannenberg directed policy programs at advocacy groups and think tanks. At Education Reform Now, he was vice president for strategic initiatives and higher education policy, focusing on college access, admission, affordability, and completion reform. At Education Trust, he served as director of higher education policy and led the Doing Away With Debt campaign. At New America Foundation, he founded and managed the PK-16 Education Policy Program and Federal Education Budget Project. Dannenberg is recognized as a national expert on the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal education budget, college admissions, and student loan policy. He serves as deputy commissioner for policy at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where he leads work on state student financial aid and student success initiatives.

Dannenberg's work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Politico Magazine, and The American Prospect. He has testified before Congress and state legislatures and appeared on PBS, WNYC, C-SPAN, CNBC, MSNBC, and CBS's "60 Minutes." Dannenberg is a first-generation college graduate who self-financed his post-secondary education through grants, loans, scholarships, and work. He holds degrees from Boston University, Stanford University, and Yale Law School.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/29/2026.

Michael Dannenberg Speaking Topics

  • Post-SFFA Affirmative Action College Admissions Policy:

    Racial and economic diversity are both essential ingredients to campus life. How can colleges and universities promote both types of diversity after the Supreme Court’s ruling on race in admissions?

    What can we learn from colleges that have faced bans on using race at the state level? What do we know about “affirmative access” programs at the state and local level? Hear how to structure admissions, college access initiatives, and recruitment to produce heightened racial and economic diversity to and through completion of higher education.

    How do using admissions factors such as overcoming low family wealth, high neighborhood poverty levels, and modest parental income and education levels promote fairness and implicitly address our nation’s history of racial discrimination?

    How can universities find the resources to pay for this new type of affirmative action? And what can state and local leaders do to ensure there is a pipeline of qualified, financially capable, and fully supported students from historically underserved populations?

Michael Dannenberg Videos

Advocacy and Civic Engagement in Support of Students' Basic Needs

Advocacy and Civic Engagement in Support of Students' Basic Needs

September 9, 2022—Supporting students’ basic needs and making college more affordable through federal and state policy requires sustained...

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  • What are the speaker fees for Michael Dannenberg

    Speaking fees for Michael Dannenberg, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Michael Dannenberg are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Michael Dannenberg, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Michael Dannenberg speak about?

    Michael Dannenberg is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include College, Education, Education Reform, Educational Motivational, Government, Political, STEM, STEM Education

  • Where does Michael Dannenberg travel from?

    Michael Dannenberg generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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Michael Dannenberg is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Post-SFFA Affirmative Action College Admissions Policy: . The estimated speaking fee range to book Michael Dannenberg for your event is available upon request. Michael Dannenberg generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Carol Geary Schneider, Monica Martinez, Linda Darling-Hammond, Rukiya Curvey Johnson and Nicky Morgan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Michael Dannenberg for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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