Board & Staff
Deborah L. Hayes
Managing Director, Communications
Deborah L. Hayes joined The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2002. She is responsible for all aspects of Pew's external communications and media strategies, including its publications, Web site, media relations, and communications components of the program areas.
Ms. Hayes’ professional experience in media relations spans more than two decades. She has been a partner of Westhill Partners, a New York City-based communications and management firm, where she was president of the Media Strategies Division. In addition to providing senior-level client leadership, Ms. Hayes oversaw the marketing of the organization.
Prior to her tenure at Westhill Partners, Ms. Hayes was director of media and corporate relations for Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Productions, where she managed all external communications strategies. From 1992 to 1994, Ms. Hayes was senior vice president of corporate communications for MTV Networks, serving as the chief spokesperson.
Ms. Hayes’ expertise has extended into the public sector. As press secretary for Congressman Richard A. Gephardt, she has handled communications on numerous bipartisan issues. Ms. Hayes began her career in 1979 as a television reporter in her hometown of Huntington, West Virginia.
Upholding her commitment to public service, Ms. Hayes has served on several governing boards. Currently, Ms. Hayes is a board member for the Monell Chemical Senses Center, where ground-breaking multidisciplinary research on taste, smell and chemosensory irritation has a direct impact on health and disease and increases fundamental knowledge about chemical senses.
