Professional Biography
Sean Vereen, Ed.D., is the President of Steppingstone Scholars, Inc. Steppingstone works with families, students, partner schools, universities, and sister nonprofits to create pathways for educationally underserved students to college completion and career in the Philadelphia region. Under Dr. Vereen’s leadership, Steppingstone has launched a number of new pioneering programs that have increased the organization impact and scope. Steppingstone now serves over 1,000 students (300% increase over his tenure).
Steppingstone is now building three pathways to college completion and career entry: 1) K-12 college and workforce pipeline working with schools in economically and racially segregated neighborhoods; 2) increasing the number of Steppingstone’s Scholars attending highly selective colleges where they have the best resources and financial aid to complete and succeed; 3) creating innovative curriculum and tools to narrow the achievement gap for educationally underserved students.
Dr. Vereen is a member of the Mayor’s Education Nominating Panel that nominates members for the Mayor’s consideration to serve on the School District of Philadelphia’s Board of Education. He is also the Vice Chair for Board of Limited Jurisdiction for Our Mother of Consolation Parish School in Philadelphia.
Under Dr. Vereen’s leadership, Steppingstone has built strategic partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia, as well as a number of the region's leading universities including Temple University, University of the Sciences, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Previously, Dr. Vereen served as the Associate Dean of Opportunity and Access in the Office of Admissions at Penn. Under his tenure, the population of underrepresented minority students (Black, Latinx, Native American) increased 32% in a 4-year period. In 2012, the underrepresented minority population reached 20% of the overall undergraduate student body — the highest percentage and number in Penn’s history.
Dr. Vereen received his Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education in 2005. His research focused on how leaders of minority focused resource centers navigate a complex higher ed institution. He is a guest lecturer on issues of social and educational mobility and inequality, narrowing the achievement/service gaps for educationally underserved students, and how to diversify educational institutions.
