Philip A. Craft has been named director of communications for Elon University School of Law. He joins Elon Law after serving seven years as deputy chief of staff and press secretary for U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (N.Y.) and three years as director of communications and marketing for City Parks Foundation in New York City.
Craft will serve as Elon Law’s primary point of contact with the media, helping to voice faculty perspectives on current legal affairs while publicizing Elon Law’s special events, milestones and achievements, faculty research and student activities. Craft will also create and implement communications campaigns to convey the school’s mission and future plans to prospective students, peer institutions, the legal community, benefactors and other constituencies important to Elon Law’s success.
“Philip Craft has a distinguished record of achievement in leading national communications campaigns that have influenced public policy debates and helped to advance important federal legislation,” said George R. Johnson Jr., interim dean of Elon University School of Law. “His background in media relations and public policy makes him ideally suited to contribute to the success of Elon Law.”
Craft’s experience during his service in the Congressional office included directing communications campaigns to monitor and improve the federal response to New York’s recovery needs after 9/11 and to advance the Debbie Smith bill into law, funding the processing of DNA evidence in sexual assault cases across the country. In 2005, Craft was selected to serve as chief of delegation for a Congressional staff trip to China. He has taught Communications in public settings and public speaking courses at Baruch College in New York City and the University of Washington in Seattle.
Craft said he was honored to be selected for the position. “Elon Law’s emphasis on leadership as a key component of its rigorous legal education means that the school’s graduates will be prepared to spearhead many of the nation’s and the world’s most vexing challenges. It will be a privilege to contribute toward the success of an institution that is squarely focused on serving the needs of the region, the country, and the world by preparing law students to be leaders in their communities and beyond. “
Craft has a master’s degree in communications from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in communications, politics and law from Emerson College in Boston.