Nora Gordon

Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships

About Nora Gordon

Nora Gordon is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships at Future Plans, where she translates the organization’s vision into integrated, mission‑aligned strategies that expand pathways to work, wellbeing, and economic mobility. She leads cross-sector partnerships, social enterprise development, storytelling efforts, and place‑based initiatives that advance Future Plans’ goal of ending poverty one person at a time.

Nora brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of culture, diplomacy, and economic empowerment, spanning educational and cultural exchange, public affairs, and cross-sector partnerships. She spent ten years in the U.S. Foreign Service, serving in Mexico and the United Kingdom, where she also led the Federal Women’s Program and championed initiatives supporting women’s leadership and professional participation. She later transitioned to the Civil Service at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, where she led cultural exchange programs connecting American artists and global audiences in support of U.S. policy goals. She has designed and directed international initiatives that strengthen local capacity and expand professional opportunities.

Across her career, Nora has designed and led initiatives around the world focused on education, workforce readiness, and economic empowerment, including workforce development efforts in Liberia and Rwanda. She has spearheaded cultural and educational programming in Syria, Palestine, and the Brazilian Amazon;published analysis on multilateral peacebuilding based on primary research at the African Union and the United Nations; and contributed to conflict prevention efforts in Timor‑Leste. Earlier, she served as Special Assistant to the Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Nations, serving as his primary advisor and speechwriter. Her professional background spans government, nonprofit, and academic institutions, including roles with Columbia University’s Center for International Conflict Resolution, the Women’s Refugee Commission, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and NYU’s Center on International Cooperation.

Nora holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she completed a fellowship in gender policy, and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to local impact to her work at Future Plans. Nora lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and enjoys hiking, yoga, and exploring arts and culture.