Mini-Concert: Tim Edwards & Jeanne Huebner
Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen is the third executive director of LISC Jacksonville. Dr. Cohen brings over 15 years of experience in community development to LISC’s Jacksonville office with a track record of leadership in programmatic development to impact challenged communities. As executive director, Cohen will lead LISC’s local staff and programs focused on catalyzing economic opportunity for local residents.
Most recently, Dr. Cohen served for 6 years with Florida’s First Coast YMCA as the Vice President of Operations and Social Responsibility. Dr. Cohen led an effort that saw the construction and the development of the $ 4 million dollar Johnson YMCA Teen Center. Prior to that Dr. Cohen led the city’s efforts with the New Town Success Zone.
Dr. Cohen is a Jacksonville, FL native graduating from Raines High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of North Florida, an MBA in Marketing from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, NC and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Non Profit Management from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. His research is largely centered on the social well-being (education, healthcare and economics) of low socioeconomic communities, particularly the role the African American church plays within that space.
Currently he serves on the advisory boards of the University of North Florida’s School of Education, the University of Florida’s Clinical Translation Science and Vanderbilt University’s Recruitment Innovation Center and JASMY Inc. His memberships include: the Jacksonville Chapter NAACP, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated Jacksonville Alumni Chapter and Leadership Jacksonville — Class of 2014.
Pedro and his family live in the Springfield neighborhood; and he enjoys reading and woodworking in his spare time.