Steven D. Cohen is the Managing Director of the Oral Communication Program at the University of Maryland. He is an award-winning teacher who is well known for delivering dynamic courses and seminars that help participants improve their communication skills in real time. An expert on public speaking, Steven researches and writes about the techniques that professional speakers use to design and deliver powerful messages. (He blogs and tweets about these topics regularly.)

Steven has taught public speaking workshops at many academic institutions, including Harvard College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  He currently teaches communication courses at the University of Maryland and Harvard University Extension School.

Steven was a Senior Consultant with the Strategy & Change Practice at IBM Global Business Services. In this role, he helped senior banking and insurance executives design and implement organizational change strategies to enable future growth. Prior to joining IBM, Steven was an Assistant Vice President at Bank of America. He led strategic initiatives within the corporate servicing business and managed a team of consultants who set up treasury services for large corporate and middle market clients.

Steven earned a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Maryland, a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Florida.  He also earned an Advanced Toastmaster designation from Toastmasters International.

Steven's research has appeared in Communication Teacher, Listening Education, Relevant Rhetoric, and the International Journal of Listening.  Steven is the author of two books, Lessons from the Podium: Public Speaking as a Leadership Art and Public Speaking: The Path to Success.  He is also the editor of On the Path to Success: Readings and Resources.