Andrew Loeb Shoenig

Andrew Loeb Shoenig (Andy) joined MDC’s Rural Forward program in September 2019 as a partnership manager and was promoted to program director in 2021. He works to amplify the impact of rural leaders, organizations, and coalitions. Andy is passionate about bringing people together across boundaries to solve problems and strengthen collaborations. 

In his role, Andy provides a range of services in Rural Forward communities, including facilitation, training, coaching, relationship brokering, program planning, and grant development. He also serves as the first permanent partnership manager for the NC Inclusive Disaster Recovery Network (NCIDR), a collaborative of statewide agencies that aim to be allies to on-the-ground disaster recovery groups across NC. Andy helps this network connect local voices with statewide decision-makers and works to make the state’s disaster recovery system more responsive to unmet needs of NC’s most vulnerable communities. 

Prior to joining the team, Andy organized international exchange programs to build sustainable relationships across the aisle, across sectors, and across the globe. From 2009-2011, he was a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Vienna, Austria with a focus on cross-cultural communication. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Andy now calls North Carolina home. He graduated with a BA in History and German Studies from Emory University and a Master of Public Administration from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.