Michael Prihoda
DIrector of Media and Creative content
Michael Prihoda is driven by a passion for using the written word in ways that restore a sense of possibility and hope throughout society. He began his career as a middle school English teacher before transitioning to a role in development and communications at The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit. During his time there, he helped secure a $20 million grant, the single largest in the organization's history; expanded their communications strategies and impact; and amplified the voices of those at the forefront of the education change movement in Indianapolis. He also previously served as the editor-in-chief of After the Pause, an experimental literary magazine, for eight years.
At the Institute, Michael serves as the Director of Media and Creative Content. In this role, he forges trusted relationships with traditional and new media; amplifies the Institute's reach and key messages across different mediums; and crafts positive stories of change grounded in the Institute’s work across America.
Michael is also a widely published author with nine books of poetry and a collection of short stories. He spends his spare time reading, designing board games, and endlessly revising a novel he hopes to someday publish. He lives outside Indianapolis, IN, with his wife, son, a miniature Bernedoodle, and two rescue cats.