Jeff Geist is the Director of Community Engagement, Programs and Partnerships at Duke Farms, a center of the Doris Duke Foundation in Hillsborough, New Jersey. In this role, he leads the organization's community engagement strategy, overseeing public programming, partnerships, membership, volunteer engagement, visitor experiences, and the Community Garden. His work focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for people to experience, understand, and actively participate in conservation. 

With a background in environmental education and natural resource management, Jeff works at the intersection of conservation and public participation. He is particularly interested in how environmental organizations can move beyond traditional models of visitation and education to build lasting relationships with their communities, reduce barriers to participation, and create accessible pathways for people to become more involved in conservation. His approach emphasizes collaboration, mission-driven programming, and the importance of connecting people with work happening in their own communities.

At Duke Farms, Jeff has helped advance a more integrated approach to community engagement, bringing together previously distinct program areas to create a more cohesive and intentional visitor experience. His work includes developing new engagement initiatives, strengthening volunteer and membership programs, cultivating community and partnerships, and expanding opportunities for audiences to connect with conservation through hands-on experiences and public programming. Through these efforts, he aims to extend Duke Farms' impact beyond its 2,700-acre campus and strengthen its role as a resource for learning and community.

Jeff holds a Master of Arts in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University and a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources from Rutgers University. He was also selected as a 2023 CEE-Change Fellow through the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), a leadership development experience focused on advancing environmental education and civic engagement.