Washington – The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), a movement of Americans dedicated to supporting the United Nations, has named Faith Akovi Cooper as its next Executive Director.
Ms. Akovi Cooper brings more than two decades of experience to the role, advancing humanitarian assistance, international development, and global health programs across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Most recently, she led the national community engagement strategy for the International Rescue Committee’s Resettlement, Asylum and Integration unit, bringing together diverse communities, partners, and stakeholders throughout the United States.
“I am honored to lead UNA-USA,” Ms. Akovi Cooper said. “Building coalitions and working at the intersection of local and global issues has been my life’s calling. To advocate for the UN alongside UNA’s dedicated members from coast to coast is beyond thrilling.”
Originally from Liberia, Ms. Akovi Cooper and her family narrowly escaped that country’s civil war. They spent more than two years in refugee camps across West Africa, where they experienced firsthand the lifesaving work of UN programs, funds, and agencies. She resettled to the United States as a teenager and knew early on that she wanted to dedicate her life to serving humanity.
“UNA-USA’s mission is deeply personal to me,” Ms. Akovi Cooper said. “The UN helped my family survive, and the United States became our home — where we recovered, integrated, and rebuilt. Advocating for the UN here in the U.S. brings my life full circle.”
Ms. Akovi Cooper was recently appointed Chair of the United States Refugee Advisory Board. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Foreign Languages — with a specialization in Spanish — and Criminal Justice from Radford University, and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Health Policy from George Mason University. Ms. Akovi Cooper is the mother of three daughters and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
