Judith F. Helzner
Director, Population and Reproductive Health

Email: jhelzner at macfound dot org

Judith F. Helzner is the Director of the Population & Reproductive Health (PRH) area of the Foundation's Program on Global Security & Sustainability.

Helzner joined the Foundation in July, 2002, and serves as a strategic advisor to staff members in the Mexico, Nigeria and India offices on grantmaking related to population issues. She is also responsible for grants made to international organizations in the population field.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Helzner was with the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Western Hemisphere Region, where she first served as Director of Program Coordination starting in 1987 and was later named Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health, a position she held from 1997 to 2002. Helzner has also worked with the International Women's Health Coalition (1985-1987), with Private Agencies Collaborating Together (1982-1984), and with Pathfinder Fund in Boston (1977-1982). She has been a consultant to several organizations, including the World Health Organization and USAID, where she Co-chaired its Interagency Gender Working Group Subcommittee on Men & Reproductive Health.

Helzner has published articles and book reviews in journals such as Studies in Family Planning and International Family Planning Perspectives. She graduated from Tufts University with a bachelor's degree in French and received master's degrees in both Demography and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.