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CNFA Appoints Patricia Sheikh to its Board of Directors
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), an international agricultural development organization, has announced the appointment of Patricia R. Sheikh to its Board of Directors.
Sheikh is an international economist and agricultural development expert with more than 40 years of experience across the public and private sectors—including more than 35 years at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). During her tenure at FAS, Sheikh served as the office’s Deputy Administrator, managing a staff of nearly 300 and overseeing the implementation of USDA’s international food assistance and agricultural development programs.
“CNFA is honored to welcome Patricia Sheikh as our newest Board member,” said Mike Espy, CNFA Board Chair. “Pat has a deep understanding of international agricultural development programs. We look forward to tapping into the extensive expertise she has built through her work which aligns closely with CNFA’s mission to bring sustainable agricultural development to farmers across many of the world’s underserved regions.”
In addition to her career at USDA, Sheikh has held positions at several NGOs in the development field—including The Corporate Council on Africa, where she acted as the Council’s Agribusiness, Health and Trade Director; and Roots of Peace, an organization specializing in development in post-conflict environments, where she served as Senior Vice President of Programs.
CNFA President and CEO Sylvain Roy joined Espy in citing the value that Sheikh brings to the organization through her unique leadership background.
“Patricia’s wealth of experience—both in public-sector development agencies like USAID and in nonprofits—will bring a valuable new perspective to CNFA leadership,” Roy said. “The Board looks forward to leveraging our newest member’s insights as we work to improve food security and economic development in agricultural markets.”
Sheikh expressed her eagerness to engage with the Board in her new role. “I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with CNFA as a member of the Board,” Sheikh said. “And I am committed to doing my part to help the organization reach new heights in international agricultural development.”
Since 2023, Sheikh has served as an independent consultant with International Agricultural Solutions, helping clients strengthen agricultural production and business linkages. Sheikh holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from Notre Dame of Maryland and a master’s degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
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About CNFA: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) is an international agricultural development organization that specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable, enterprise-based agricultural initiatives. We work with businesses, foundations, governments, and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world’s growing demand for food. Since our inception in 1985, we have designed and implemented enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity, and improve access to inputs and financing in 49 countries around the world.