Jeff Strew is a Program Manager at Microsoft based in New York. He previously served as a United Nations diplomat and senior advisor at the British government's ministry of foreign affairs, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). His UN career included roles at several agencies, including the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and the UN Development Program. Before joining the UN, Jeff worked for the Center on International Cooperation, a public policy think tank based at New York University.

Jeff earned an MPA from Columbia, an MA in International Relations from NYU, and a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Washington (UW). Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, he’s a proud graduate of Yakima County public schools, where he served as a member of the National Honor Society and captain of the tennis team at Eisenhower High School in Washington State.

During his college years in Seattle, Jeff and fellow UW alums Eric Freistadt and Dan Miele co-founded Trasher—a successful DJ collective and monthly event series that quickly became a cornerstone of UW nightlife. Jeff and Eric also formed Jules & Jim, a Seattle- and New York-based DJ duo known for their genre-spanning sets that included house, techno, and trance.

Jeff comes from a family of immigrants and military veterans who taught him the values of hard work and public service. His mother, a Filipina immigrant, fled the Marcos dictatorship, while his American father of Swedish descent enlisted in the US Army during the Cold War.

An active member of the local community, he volunteers for the Fort Greene Tennis Association, a New York City nonprofit that uses sport to foster community engagement. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, going to raves, and listening to electronic music. Jeff currently lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Rachel.

EXPERIENCE
Program Manager, Microsoft (2025 - Present)
Senior Policy Advisor, British Government - FCDO (2021 - 2024)
Policy Advisor, United Nations (2018 - 2021)
Program Manager, NYU Center on International Cooperation (2014 - 2017)
Associate Program Manager, United Nations (2013 - 2014)
Program Coordinator, Seattle Chamber of Commerce (2011)
Co-Founder, Trasher (2008 - 2011)
Intern, World Affairs Council (2010)

EDUCATION
Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs – MPA, Management and Innovation (2021 - 2024)
New York University – MA, International Relations (2012 - 2014)
University of Washington – BA, Latin American Studies (2005 - 2009)