Jennifer Long

Jennifer "Vern" Long is the CEO of World Coffee Research since June 2019, spearheading global initiatives to improve coffee quality, productivity, and sustainability for farmers worldwide. Prior to this role, Jennifer served as the Director of the Office of Agricultural Research & Policy at USAID from January 2011 to May 2019, overseeing a team of over 30 experts and managing significant investments in agricultural research and policy development. Jennifer's extensive background includes roles such as Senior Research Advisor at USAID, Visiting Assistant Research Professor at the University of Illinois - Chicago, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar, with a focus on food security, genetic resources policy, and nutrition research. Educational credentials include a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding & Genetics from Cornell University and a Postdoctoral fellowship in International Nutrition from UCLA.