Mike McKenna

Mike McKenna is president and CEO of Marsteller Advertising, a unit of the global communications firm Burson-Marsteller.

Mr. McKenna began his advertising and public relations career after earning a master’s degree in journalism at Boston University where he was an Abbott Scholar. Today he specializes in corporate image work, but he has also done award-winning creative projects for consumer brands and pro bono clients ranging from Adidas to the UNCF’s “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste” campaign.

Mr. McKenna has also done considerable volunteer work, lecturing at colleges and business schools, and serving on a number of charitable and civic boards. Most recently, he helped the National Football Foundation create Play It Smart, a program that prepares inner city high school players for college. A documentary he produced recently aired on CNN, covering Play It Smart’s successful growth from three pilot programs to 44 schools around the country.

Before advertising, Mr. McKenna worked at Wesleyan, where he was part of the first WAF staff to raise a million dollars and helped found WESTAR, for which he received an Alumni Council service award. He has continued to work as a class agent and on fundraising committees at his children’s schools.

Mr. McKenna is married to graphic designer Lynn McKenna, daughter of the late Alan Stevenson ’42. Their son Jake is a sophomore at Harvard, and their daughter Lee is a high school freshman. 

“My Wesleyan education was wonderful, both in and out of class. I enjoyed being taught by full professors and in tutorials. And I learned as much in extracurriculars: playing varsity and club sports, working for the Argus, and as a resident advisor. All combined to create a lasting enthusiasm for new ideas, as well as a sense of enduring values."