Zamorano University officially announces the appointment of its new president, Jeff Cohen, a retired U.S. diplomat, who assumed his duties on April 1, 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter aimed at strengthening the institution’s academic impact, global engagement, and commitment to sustainable development in the region.
With more than 25 years of experience in international development, Jeff is a recognized leader in advancing complex, high-impact programs in some of the world’s most challenging environments. His career spans both the public and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on key areas such as health, climate resilience, economic growth, agriculture, democratic governance, and humanitarian assistance.
Prior to his appointment, Jeff served as Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Indonesia, where he led multidisciplinary teams and executed a broad development strategy, achieving significant progress in environmental sustainability, pandemic response, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships. His USAID career also includes service as Deputy Mission Director in Afghanistan and leadership roles in countries such as Peru and the Dominican Republic, where he advanced high-impact initiatives and promoted public-private partnerships focused on economic development, education, and social well-being.
n the early stages of his career, from 2002 to 2005, he served in Honduras as Deputy Director and Programming & Training Officer, and previously as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia—experiences that shaped his long-standing commitment to community development and international service. This strong connection to Latin America has deeply influenced his leadership approach, centered on local impact and sustainability.
Throughout his career, Jeff has held strategic positions within USAID, leading large-scale programs and managing multi-billion-dollar development portfolios. In these roles, he has negotiated bilateral agreements, led multisectoral initiatives, and fostered strategic partnerships aimed at delivering sustainable, locally driven solutions.
His leadership philosophy is grounded in collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and systems thinking—principles that have guided his work in leading diverse teams and delivering measurable results in complex environments, aligned with global development priorities.
Jeff holds a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College at the National Defense University, a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from Michigan State University. He is fluent in Spanish and has working knowledge of Indonesian, enabling him to operate effectively in multicultural environments.
As President of Zamorano University, Jeff is committed to strengthening the institution’s global reach, expanding strategic partnerships with academic institutions, the private sector, and international organizations, and advancing innovation, applied research, and entrepreneurship in key areas such as sustainable agriculture, climate change, and food security. He will also continue to strengthen Zamorano’s Learn-by-Doing educational model, creating new opportunities for student and faculty development, research, and engagement.
With the start of this new chapter under Jeff Cohen’s leadership, Zamorano University reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and the development of leaders equipped to address global challenges in agriculture, the environment, and sustainable development
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