Steppingstone Scholars, Inc., a Philadelphia based nonprofit that develops and implements programs that prepare underserved schoolchildren for educational opportunities that lead to college, announces Sean Vereen, MS.Ed., Ed.D., as its new President, effective August 20, 2012. Dr. Vereen was selected following a search led by a presidential search committee comprised of members of the organization’s board of directors. “While eminently qualified to be our next President, all members of the presidential search committee were particularly impressed by Sean’s strategic vision, dedication to education and passionate focus on making a difference in the lives of underserved children,” said Wanda Paul, Chair of the Board of Directors of Steppingstone Scholars. “His depth and breadth of knowledge about access to education, and his creativity and ability to pull partners together to strengthen our program and expand our reach at a time when we are poised to do so, makes him an excellent choice for the job.” “Considering what Philadelphia faces around issues of education equality, college degree attainment, and poverty, this city needs programs like Steppingstone Scholars to challenge and support its underserved schoolchildren as well as its businesses and educational institutions to create opportunities so that young people can attain brighter futures and give back to each other and their communities,” said Dr. Sean Vereen. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this great organization. Being part of a concentrated effort to serve our schoolchildren and increase college access and success is both very rewarding and necessary.” Dr. Vereen comes to Steppingstone Scholars with a number of years of experience in higher education. In 2008, he joined the Undergraduate Admissions team at the University of Pennsylvania and became the Associate Dean of Opportunity and Access, overseeing initiatives focused on the cultural and socioeconomic diversification of the University’s undergraduate student body. He has also served as a Pre-Major Advisor in the School of Arts and Sciences for five years. Prior to his role as Associate Dean of Opportunity and Access, Dr. Vereen was the Associate Director of the Center for Africana Studies. During his time at Penn, Dr. Vereen was one of the founding members of the service living-learning program and the Franklin Community. He coordinated the Kerner +40 Conference, which featured former President Bill Clinton, and he became the Mentor and Campus Liaison for the Posse Foundation, a leadership and scholars program focused on urban high school students. He was also instrumental in designing and coordinating Penn’s new partnership with The KIPP Foundation. Penn is the first Ivy League member to join in partnership with both organizations. Dr. Vereen received his MS.Ed. and Ed.D. from the Graduate School of Education in Higher Education Administration at the University of Pennsylvania, and his BA in History from the University of Rochester. He attended high school at the George School, a Quaker boarding school in Newtown, PA. “Sean was a valuable member of our Program Committee for a couple of years before joining the board of directors last fall,” said Gretchen Burke, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors and Program Committee Chair of Steppingstone Scholars. “Not only does he bring a great deal of knowledge from his experiences in higher education, but he intrinsically understands our organization’s values and priorities and will be able to make a contribution from his first day in the office.” About Steppingstone Scholars, Inc. Steppingstone Scholars, Inc. is dedicated to helping educationally underserved students in the Greater Philadelphia Region achieve academic success. Students with the potential and a community of support are prepared for admission to and success at the best public, non-public and independent college preparatory schools through a program of academics, mentoring and support. Steppingstone Scholars works with partner schools to create opportunities that lead to college. For more information about Steppingstone Scholars, please visit http://www.steppingstonescholars.org or follow Steppingstone Scholars on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/steppingstonescholars).
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