Michael Burns

Dr. Michael Burns is active in both industry and academia. He is known as a dynamic educator, leader, speaker, consultant, trainer, and production manager. Dr. Burns has spent his life studying how humans use communication to connect, create, understand, motivate, and change the world. He believes that everyone has the capacity to continually improve their communication skills no matter their current competency.

Dr. Burns' industry experience includes working for NBC’s TODAY Show at the 2006 Torino, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2018 PyeongChang, 2020 Tokyo, and 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. While at the TODAY Show he works on the production management and logistics team. Dr. Burns also is the co-founder of his communication consulting and training company, Burns Learning LLC. His past work experience also includes working as a communication specialist for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Burns is also an active academic. He is a communication professor at the University of Colorado Boulder where he also directs TEDxCU. He has published and presented research in the areas of persuasion, training and development, presentational speaking, message development, narrative influence, interpersonal communication, and health communication. Dr. Burns is an award-winning instructor and trainer.

Dr. Burns is a proud Midwesterner who grew up in Ohio. He earned his B.S. in Communication from Ohio University, his M.A. in Communication from Texas State University, and his Ph.D. in Communication from North Dakota State University.