Joan Cohen was nominated to be Commissioner of DPFR by Governor Mills in December 2024 and was confirmed by the Senate in January 2025.
Joan Cohen joined DPFR in November 2019—serving as DPFR’s Deputy Commissioner. Commissioner Cohen is a former State Representative (former District 113 part Portland/part Falmouth) and served on the legislature’s Business Research and Economic Development Committee.
Prior to joining DPFR, Commissioner Cohen was Special Assistant to the President at University of Southern Maine and Executive Director of the Southern Maine Community College Foundation. She also previously served as General Counsel for the Maine Medical Association and Assistant General Counsel to the Maine Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Cohen is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.