About Zack
Zackery P. Burgess is a strategic communications executive, public affairs leader, publisher, and journalist with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations build trust, engage stakeholders, elevate leaders, and advance mission-driven outcomes.
His career spans healthcare, government, nonprofit leadership, publishing, media, community engagement, and public policy. Zack has led communications and engagement strategies for national nonprofit organizations, public agencies, elected officials, cultural institutions, foundations, and community-based organizations, helping them strengthen visibility, deepen stakeholder relationships, and navigate complex challenges.
Most recently, Zack served as National Director of Marketing & Communications for Health Equity at the American Heart Association, where he supported national campaigns, executive visibility initiatives, health equity communications, and donor engagement efforts. He also helped launch the Impact With Heart Awards, a donor engagement platform associated with nearly $10 million in philanthropic support since 2023.
Previously, Zack served as Director of Communications & Engagement for the Detroit Land Bank Authority and as Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Communications for Philadelphia City Council, where he helped develop and promote the nationally recognized Peace Not Guns initiative.
In addition to his communications leadership experience, Zack has an extensive background in publishing and journalism. Through Black Book Partners, he worked with nonprofit organizations and mission-driven initiatives while serving as Assignment Editor for EDGE Magazine and Editor-at-Large for Radius Magazine. He also authored and managed a nationally distributed 32-book educational sports series for young readers.
His journalism has appeared in The New York Times, The Kansas City Star, The Washington Times, Crain's Detroit Business, USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, SLAM Magazine, The Root, and numerous other national and regional publications.
A graduate of Howard University (BA) and Wayne State University (MA), Zack is currently pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at Purdue Global Law School.
Education
Purdue Global Law School
Juris Doctor (J.D)
Building on more than two decades of leadership in communications, public affairs, and organizational strategy, Zack is pursuing a Juris Doctor to deepen his expertise in legal analysis, public policy, governance, and executive leadership.
Wayne State University
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Public Relations & Organizational Communication
Graduate studies focused on strategic communications, organizational leadership, stakeholder engagement, public relations, and organizational communication.
Howard University
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Journalism & African American Studies
A dual-major program that combined journalism, media, writing, history, and African American Studies, providing the academic foundation for a career spanning journalism, publishing, executive communications, public affairs, and community engagement.
