About
Matt Hayes is a strategic communications expert and content strategist with experience in international agriculture, food security, global development, and higher education. He directs communications for the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, a global network advancing wheat security through research, training, and collaboration.
Matt led communications and marketing for grant-funded projects totaling more than $185 million, supported by USAID, NSF, USDA, and the Gates Foundation. From 2019 to 2025, he provided communications leadership as part of international research networks across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the U.S. Examples of his portfolio include the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership, NextGen Cassava, GREAT, Breeding Insight, Wheat DEWAS, and the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS). In these roles, he developed and implemented strategies for branding, editorial, social media, public relations, and leadership communications that connected scientists, policymakers, and farmers.
He joined Cornell in 2015 as managing editor for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) where he directed editorial strategy that promoted the scientific discoveries and expertise of Cornell’s faculty and the distinctive student experience at CALS. In 2017, he was part of the core team that launched the college’s new brand identity. From 2020 to 2023, he led communications for the newly established Department of Global Development, shaping the identity of a department with more than 60 faculty members, 70 graduate students, and 200 undergraduates working in over 30 countries.
Matt is deeply curious about the world’s complexity and passionate about telling stories that reshape understanding of global challenges. As a communicator, he values the power of language and imagery to influence change and deepen insight. As a person, he prizes attributes like courage, empathy, and determination in building stronger collaborations and communities.
