Biography
Gregory Levey is an Associate Professor in the School of Professional Communication and the School of Graduate Studies. His research interests are interdisciplinary, and include the intersections of communications, media, politics, business, and writing.
He was the founding CEO of the venture capital-backed startup Figure 1, which operates in countries around the world, and has invested in and advised dozens of startups since then--and continues to do so regularly.
Dr. Levey holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto, an M.A. from New York University, a J.D. (law degree) from Fordham University, and a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Research Interests
In what seems like a prior life I was involved in political speechwriting, investigative journalism, and narrative non-fiction. More recently my outside interests have been focused on entrepreneurship of various kinds, but especially in technology and healthcare. In terms of research and writing, these days I generally operate at the intersection of communications and business, particularly in regard to startups. Indeed, I am very, very…very slowly writing a new book about that world. I am comfortable working with students studying broadcast, print, or hybrid media (from The New York Times to TikTok), especially if they are looking at it in the context of business in some form--but also as applied to a wide variety of other areas. For example, I’ve recently supervised MRPs on shoe companies in social media, dating apps, political campaigns, corporate apologies, and skincare brands. I try to bring a strong practical element to my teaching, my research and writing, and my supervision.
Publications
Dr. Levey is the author of Shut Up, I’m Talking: And Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government and How to Make Peace in the Middle East in Six Months or Less Without Leaving Your Apartment, both of which were published by Simon & Schuster/Free Press.
He has also either written for, been featured in, or worked with The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New Republic, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Time, Newsweek, Macleans, Toronto Life, The New York Post, Salon, BBC, FOX, CNN, CBS, ABC, NPR, CBC, CTV, and many others.