Dr. Dessou (he/him) has 28 years of experience in public administration, business administration, nonprofit administration, and community-based leadership. He is a community leader in Portland and enjoys helping through education, leadership development, and organizational development for emerging community-based organizations. He has been Interim Director of the City of Portland’s Office of Equity and Human Rights since December 2017. He previously created the City's Equity Training and Education Program in 2012, and recently served as the bureau's Equity and Business Operations Manager.
Koffi moved to Portland from Togo, West Africa to Portland in 2008 with his wife and their four children to work at the American Embassy for Togo. He served consecutively as human resources assistant, manager of community development and democracy-human rights funding programs, specialist of political, economic, and commercial affairs, and coordinator of International Military Education and Training programs.
Koffi has analyzed and reported on good governance, human rights practices, human trafficking, and international freedom of religions and beliefs. He has promoted human rights through education, project design, and allocating U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other U.S. Government funds to governmental and nonprofit organizations. Koffi has also coordinated conflict resolution and civil-military relations programs to improve understanding and relationship between security forces and civilians.
