2025 Gold Medalist
Ambassador David L. Cohen
Nominated by President Joe Biden and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, David L. Cohen served as the United States Ambassador to Canada from 2021 to 2025.
Before his tenure as Ambassador, the Honorable David L. Cohen served as Senior Advisor to the CEO and Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast NBCUniversal, where his portfolio included corporate communications, legal affairs, government and regulatory affairs, public affairs, corporate administration, corporate real estate and security, and community impact. Ambassador Cohen also served as the company’s first chief diversity officer.
Ambassador Cohen previously served as a partner in and Chairman of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP. From January 1992 to April 1997, Ambassador Cohen served as Chief of Staff to the Honorable Edward G. Rendell, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
Ambassador Cohen also has served on many nonprofit boards, including as chair of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania; as chair of the board of directors and the executive committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; as chair of the Philadelphia Theatre Company; as chair of the FIFA 2026 World Cup Philadelphia Bid Committee; as chair of the board of trustees of City Year and its executive committee; as a member of the board of directors of the National Urban League; and as chair of the corporate board of advisors of UnidosUS.
Ambassador Cohen also served as a member of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission. In addition, Ambassador Cohen served on the board of directors of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and PNC Bank, National Association and as a member of the board of directors of FS Global Credit Opportunities Fund.
Ambassador Cohen has received numerous awards for his civic and charitable activities, including six honorary Doctor of Laws degrees. A native of New York and raised in New Jersey, Ambassador Cohen graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College and with a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School summa cum laude. Ambassador Cohen lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Rhonda R. Cohen.