Biography

Michael DiResto joined LSU’s Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs as director in February 2025. His leadership of the Reilly Center is informed by more than 25 years of prior experience in media relations, public affairs, political and strategic communications, public policy research and development, and executive management. Joining the Reilly Center also brought DiResto’s career full circle, as his first job after moving to Baton Rouge in 1996 was teaching freshman English, through a graduate assistantship, at LSU. Prior to returning to LSU, DiResto served as Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), after being promoted from Senior Vice President for Economic Competitiveness, with oversight of the organization’s public policy, research, and advocacy efforts. Prior to working at BRAC, DiResto served as Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Communication in Louisiana State Government’s Division of Administration, and before that as Communications Director for then-Congressman Richard Baker (LA-6). DiResto volunteers as President of the board for the University Hills Civic Association and as a member of the Forum 225 Advisory Council. He is a graduate of the Leadership Baton Rouge program in 2005 and was recognized as one of the Baton Rouge area’s Top Forty Under 40 young professionals in 2006. DiResto holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English from the University of Dallas and pursued doctoral studies in English (ABD) at LSU with a goal of becoming an English professor before being lured away to a career in public affairs.