Julie Schumacher Cohen is Director of Community and Government Relations at The University of Scranton. In this role, Julie helps strengthen relationships and form partnerships between the University and the community; she has developed special initiatives in areas of downtown business engagement, refugee solidarity, and political dialogues. Julie is also currently the co-chair of the University’s Middle States Commission on Higher Education Self-Study and Chair of the University’s Community-Based Learning Board.
Julie has worked for a variety of non-profit organizations in the area of community and government relations, including previously as Deputy Director of Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of national church bodies in Washington, DC.
Julie serves on the Board of Directors of Heritage Valley Partners, Scranton Tomorrow, First Friday Scranton, and Metro Action at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. She was named a Top 25 Woman in Business in 2015 by the Northeast Business Journal and was on their list of the Top 20 under 40 in 2011. Julie was also named a Northeast Woman in 2011 by the Scranton Times Tribune.
Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in political studies and English literature from Gordon College and a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University. She has been published on a variety of topics related to faith, politics, and public administration including the Scranton Times Tribune and America magazine. Julie lives in Scranton with her husband, Will, an Associate Professor of Theology at the University, and their three children.