Sean Vereen

Sean Vereen, Ed.D., is the Co-President of Heights Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to creating pathways to educational and economic success for students from middle school through college and career. Heights was formed through the merger of Steppingstone Scholars and Philadelphia Futures in 2022 and supports 3,000 students with 70 full-time staff, an $11 million budget, and a $30 million endowment. Sean is a lecturer in the Higher Education Division at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and has led impactful efforts such as co-instructing the open Coursera course How to Apply to College, which engaged 15,000 students globally. Sean holds leadership roles with the Mayor’s Education Nominating Panel, the Johns Hopkins Access Advisory Board, and the Pew Jobs and Economic Development Roadmap Steering Committee. With a focus on social mobility, educational equity, and diversity, Sean frequently speaks on addressing achievement gaps and creating opportunities for underserved students. His efforts bridge the gap between education and opportunity by forming strategic partnerships with regional universities like Temple University, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania.