RLC Network Michael Poffenberger

Michael Poffenberger

Michael joined the Center for Action and Contemplation as Executive Director in 2014 after first serving on the Board of Directors. He is responsible for overseeing a multi-year strategy to develop CAC as a 21st-century platform for transformative spiritual teaching that builds upon founder Fr. Richard Rohr’s lifetime of work. He has led the organization through significant growth as the CAC seeks to scale its impact, integrate new teachers, and introduce future generations to the wisdom of the contemplative tradition. Michael graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he was first impacted by the teaching of contemplative activists such as Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. He then spent 10 years doing advocacy and peacebuilding work in Washington, D.C. as Executive Director for Resolve. At Resolve, Michael led bipartisan coalitions and developed international campaigns to advance policy change for war-affected communities in Africa. He helped author and win passage of legislation focused on the prevention of violent atrocities and testified before the U.S. Congress and United Nations Security Council. Michael serves as Board Chair of Invisible Children and previously served on Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies’ Advisory Board. Outside of his work, Michael is a dad to his three-year-old daughter, Madeleine.