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Kristine Cohn

Kristine Cohn represents the U.S. Secretary of Education as the senior official for Region V, which encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin and is headquartered in Chicago. She is the secretary’s principal agent for promoting understanding and outreach of federal education policies to educators, state and local government officials, civic and business leaders, and parents throughout the six states  President George W. Bush appointed Cohn in May, 2004. 

Cohn was also selected by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to lead matchmaking efforts between schools impacted by Hurricane Katrina and donors through the department’s Hurricane Help for Schools website, on September 9, 2005.  Since then, she and her staff have coordinated more than 540 matches, enabling schools that suffered damage from the hurricane or that absorbed displaced students to receive donated goods from schools, businesses, and other organizations throughout the United States, ranging from crayons to computers.

Cohn has diverse experience as an elected official, education professional, civic leader, and business executive. She was elected to two terms as chairman of Winnebago County, the sixth largest county in Illinois, leading a workforce of 1,700 with a budget of $146 million to support 278,000 residents, from 1996–2004. Cohn also served in elected positions as president of the Winnebago County Forest Preserve, Winnebago County Clerk, and Rockford Park District Commissioner.

In 1976, Cohn began her professional career with the Indiana University Foundation, where she developed funding for the Schools of Education, Optometry and Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, in addition to athletic fundraising. From 1981 to 1985, she was the director of School and Community Relations for Rockford Public Schools. Western Michigan University granted her a bachelor's degree in sociology and political science in 1974, and she earned a master's degree in university administration and business in 1976 from Indiana University. She has been a member of Phi Delta Kappa since 1976.

Her community service earned her the YWCA’s Betty Ann Keegan Award for Public Service in 1999. She was also named an Illinois Excellence in Community Service Lincoln Fellow in 1999. Her business background includes serving as president of Rockford Recycling, and as co-owner of The WORKPlace, an employment and consulting group. A resident of Rockford, IL, Kristine and her husband, Stuart, have raised six children and have 17 grandchildren. They also enjoy their two adopted golden retrievers, Kodie and Payton.

For more information about this program or any Americans for the Arts programs and services, please contact us by e-mail or call us at 202.371.2830