Biography
He is also a senior fellow at the United Nations University Centre on Policy Research and is the former director of the prevention and peacebuilding programme at the New York University Center on International Cooperation.
Eugene previously served in various roles in the United Nations, including in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology, the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti, the Department of Field Support, and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Earlier in his career, Eugene served as an advisor on United Nations management and reform at the United States Mission to the United Nations. Over the course of his career, Eugene has been instrumental in driving reform at the United Nations in areas ranging from internal administration, the management of peace operations, peacebuilding financing, and support to African peace operations.
Eugene is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Eugene holds a MPA and BA in Government from Cornell University.
Research interests
- Multilateral peace operations
- Peacebuilding
- UN institutional reform
- UN financing
Selected publications
Book Chapters
- Chen, E. & Coleman, K. (2024). “Reinvigorating UN Peacekeeping.” In Kornprobst, M. & Redo, S. (Eds.), Reinvigorating the UN (pp. 131-150). Routledge.
Reports and policy briefs
- Chen, E. (2025). Managing Peace Operations: How to Exit the Groundhog Day Time Loop of Peace Operations Reform. New York University Center on International Cooperation.
- Chen, E. (2024). A New Vision for Peace Operations (Or how I learned to stop worrying and love Christmas tree mandates). New York University Center on International Cooperation.
- Chen, E. (2024). Easier Said than Done: Overcoming Coherence Challenges Within the United Nations System. New York University Center on International Cooperation.
- Chen, E. (2024). The Liquidity Crisis at the United Nations: How We Got Here and Possible Ways Out. New York University Center on International Cooperation.
- Chen, E. (2024). Next Steps on the Financing of African Peace Support Operations: Unpacking Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023). New York University Center on International Cooperation.