Dr. Michael McAfee

Dr. Michael McAfee is the President and CEO of PolicyLink, a national research and action institute focused on advancing racial and economic equity. With over 20 years of experience in community development, education, and public policy, Dr. McAfee is a leading advocate for creating healthy communities of opportunity where all people can thrive.

Dr. McAfee earned his B.S. in Political Science from the University of Central Missouri, an MPA in Public Administration from University of Missouri-Kansas City, and an Ed.D. in Human and Organizational Learning from The George Washington University.

Before joining PolicyLink, Dr. McAfee served as a Community Builder and Senior Community Planning and Development Representative for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additionally, he was the President of YouthNet of Greater Kansas City, Director of Community Leadership at Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and Affiliated Trusts, and a Lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Under his leadership, PolicyLink has been a national leader in creating cradle-to-career systems that ensure children and youth in distressed communities have a pathway into the middle class. Dr. McAfee is also a catalyst for the development of the Corporate Racial Equity Advantage, the first comprehensive tool to guide private sector companies in actively promoting equity in their business operations and strategy.

Dr. McAfee is an avid off-road hiker and practitioner of Bikram yoga and serves on the boards of Bridge Housing, Independent Sector, North Lawndale Employment Network, One Degree, and Sweet Beginnings, LLC.