David Chrisinger is an award-winning author, educator, and executive director dedicated to the power of storytelling and clear, persuasive communication. His work bridges the worlds of public policy, narrative nonfiction, and trauma-informed storytelling, helping individuals and institutions craft messages that inspire change.
He is the author of several books, including The Soldier’s Truth: Ernie Pyle and the Story of World War II, a critically acclaimed biography of the legendary war correspondent, and Stories Are What Save Us, a deeply personal exploration of storytelling as a tool for growth, healing, and transformation. His upcoming books include the third edition of Public Policy Writing That Matters, a definitive guide to writing for impact, and More Than Personal: Transforming Lived Experience into Political Change, a practical and insightful book on harnessing personal narratives for policy advocacy. The second edition of Public Policy Writing That Matters was awarded the George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language in 2022, an honor previously given to figures such as Michael Pollan, Jon Stewart, and Noam Chomsky.
David is the Executive Director of the Harris Writing Workshop at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, where he teaches trauma-informed policy communication, leads the Persuasive Writing Credential Program, and advises the student-led Chicago Policy Review. He also serves as the Director of Writing Seminars for The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom dedicated to educating the public on military service, war, and its impact. Previously, he was a Senior Communications Specialist at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, where he helped transform complex research and data into compelling narratives for the U.S. Congress and executive agencies on topics ranging from public education and social policy to veterans’ transitions to civilian life.
An advocate for bridging cultural and institutional divides, David has taught writing at Johns Hopkins University and developed the first-of-its-kind writing seminar for student veterans at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. His instructor’s manual for that course was adopted statewide, and he edited See Me for Who I Am, a groundbreaking collection of essays by student veterans.
David’s writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine and The War Horse, where he continues to contribute to national conversations on military service, war, and its lasting effects. He is also a Logan Nonfiction Fellow and holds a Master’s degree in Social Science from the University of Chicago. His career reflects a commitment to ensuring that stories—whether personal, journalistic, or policy-driven—are clear, persuasive, and powerful enough to shape the world.