Chavonda J. Jacobs-Young (born 1967[1]) is an American government executive[2] who served as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics from 2022 to 2025.

Jacobs-Young was previously the administrator of the Agriculture Research Service, first appointed in February 2014; she was the first female and person of color to lead the agency.

[7][5] In 2008, Jacobs-Young received an Executive Leadership Certificate in Public Policy Implementation from American University in Washington, D.C.[6] After completion of her Ph.D., she worked as an assistant professor of Paper Science and Engineering at the University of Washington from 1995 until 2002.

She worked across the Federal Government to improve interagency cooperation and collaboration on high-priority scientific issues.

[3] She is a member of the United States Senior Executive Service, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the National Academy of Public Administration, and a Presidential Rank Award winner.