David Demarest

Bio

As Stanford’s senior public affairs official, David Demarest reports to the President of the university and oversees Stanford’s government relations – federal, state, and local, as well as community relations. For many years he also oversaw the university’s communications and special events organizations.

Demarest served four years as an assistant to President George H. W. Bush and member of the White House senior staff. As White House communications director, he worked directly with the president, the White House chief of staff and the Cabinet, and in that capacity managed a broad range of White House communications activities, including presidential speechwriting, public liaison, media relations and intergovernmental affairs.

Upon concluding his duties at the White House, Demarest served as executive vice president and director of corporate communications at BankAmerica Corp. and then as executive vice president for corporate relations and brand management at Visa International. Later, he founded AspenLine Reputation Strategies, a specialized reputation management and communications consulting firm based in Sausalito, Calif. Currently he is a senior lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business teaching “Political Communications: How Leaders Become Leaders,” as well as an undergraduate course “Making Sense of Strategy.” He is past Chair, and currently member of the Executive Committee of the Public Affairs Council in Washington D.C., as well as past Chair of The Seminar (a global forum for communications executives). He is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society and for many years he has served on the President George Bush Library Advisory Council.

Residing in Sausalito, California, Demarest is an avid backpacker, skier, and fisherman. He and his wife Dianne, endure the joy of their blended family of six lovely daughters.

Teaching

Degree Courses

2018-19

GSBGEN 565: Political Communication: How Leaders Become Leaders

Politics, perhaps like no other arena, provides a rich and dramatic laboratory for studying the art and science of influential communication. Whether it is a local school bond election or a Congressional race, a Presidential debate or a State of...

STRAMGT 110Q: Making Sense of Strategy

Get the strategy right, and the chance for success is great. Nowhere is this more evident than in today''s world of major challenges. Strategy is at the heart of problem solving and achieving objectives, yet few people can define strategy, much...

2017-18

GSBGEN 565: Political Communication: How Leaders Become Leaders

Politics, perhaps like no other arena, provides a rich and dramatic laboratory for studying the art and science of influential communication. Whether it is a local school bond election or a Congressional race, a Presidential debate or a State of...

STRAMGT 110Q: Making Sense of Strategy

Get the strategy right, and the chance for success is great. Nowhere is this more evident than in today''s world of major challenges. Strategy is at the heart of problem solving and achieving objectives, yet few people can define strategy, much...

2016-17

GSBGEN 565: Political Communication: How Leaders Become Leaders

Politics, perhaps like no other arena, provides a rich and dramatic laboratory for studying the art and science of influential communication. Whether it is a local school bond election or a Congressional race, a Presidential debate or a State of...

STRAMGT 110Q: Making Sense of Strategy

Get the strategy right, and the chance for success is great. Nowhere is this more evident than in today''s world of major challenges. Strategy is at the heart of problem solving and achieving objectives, yet few people can define strategy, much...

Executive Education & Other Non-Degree Programs

• The Innovative Health Care Leader: From Design Thinking to Personal Leadership Experience Stanford business and medicine in a health care leadership program featuring design thinking and personal leadership skill development.