Judith F. Helzner is
the Director of the Population & Reproductive Health (PRH) area of
the MacArthur 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.