Charbonneau Named CVM Director of Communications and Marketing

Mike Charbonneau, a communications leader with over 20 years of creative storytelling experience, has been named the director of communications and marketing at the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Charbonneau will lead strategic marketing and communications plans for the CVM and the NC State Veterinary Hospital, overseeing print and web communications, media relations and public relations.

The director serves as the primary gatekeeper of the CVM’s national and international image and enhances philanthropic support for the college. 

Charbonneau begins work on March 2. He holds a bachelor’s in mass communications from NC State and returned to the university to earn a master’s in mass communication. He has served as an adjunct professor in public relations writing at NC State since 2019.

Charbonneau and his wife, Cris, live in Raleigh with their four children and their dog, Finley. 

“I am humbled and honored to join the College of Veterinary Medicine team,” said Charbonneau. “As a proud NC State alum and a storyteller at heart, I’m thrilled to help share stories of the innovative research and incredible people who are working so hard to improve animal and human health at the university that means so much to me and my family.”

Charbonneau has spent his entire communications career in North Carolina. Since 2016, he has been the chief communications officer for GoTriangle, the Research Triangle’s public transit organization. He led all marketing, communications and community engagement efforts for the company, launching several successful public awareness campaigns.

From 2013 to 2016, he was deputy secretary of communications for the N.C. Department of Transportation, a role he took on after serving as director of public relations for the Wake County Public School System.

Before moving into the communications and marketing field, Charbonneau was a reporter and multimedia producer with Raleigh-based WRAL-TV from 2003 to 2012. Before joining WRAL, he was a reporter and bureau chief for WNCT-TV in Greenville, N.C. 

“We are thrilled to begin this new chapter in the NC State CVM’s communication and marketing program, said Dianne Dunning, CVM associate dean of advancement. “Mike brings a strong skill set to the team in leadership, storytelling and public relations. We’re excited to continue sharing our innovative and impactful work both nationally and internationally.”

Charbonneau has received numerous awards for his marketing and public relations work, including several American Public Transportation Awards and North Carolina Association of Government Information Officers Excellence in Communications Awards. 

He has received two Emmy Awards for breaking news coverage of natural disasters and an award for investigative reporting from the Associated Press.

The director position brings Charbonneau back to the scene of one of his favorite stories he covered as a reporter: the CVM and the NC State College of Engineering partnering to create a plate to help a beagle with a hole in the roof of his mouth. 

“The experience helped me understand the power of collaboration across NC State and the significant impact this type of problem solving can have on animal and human medicine,” said Charbonneau. “Our students, faculty and staff truly embody the Think and Do spirit, and it is exciting to be a part of that.” 

~Jordan Bartel/NC State Veterinary Medicine  

For more information on the NC State CVM communications and marketing team, go here.