Farah Jimenez
President and CEO
Farah Jimenez is the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Education Fund (PEF), a nonprofit committed to tackling the city’s talent pipeline challenge, by ensuring Philadelphia students are supported in fulfilling their fullest college and career ambitions. It is her belief – in the power of an education to transform lives – that drives Ms. Jimenez’ efforts at the Philadelphia Education Fund. At PEF,
Ms. Jimenez is responsible for supporting, leading, and resourcing the work of the City’s most talented and experienced team of college and career professionals. In her role, she also works to foster the corporate and civic partnerships that enable PEF to serve more than 3,000 students year, award $900,000 in scholarships annually, support 750 teachers and embed college advising in six Philadelphia public high schools. During her tenure, Ms. Jimenez expanded PEF’s advising services to four middle schools; rebooted PhillyGoes2College.org, PEF’s online college access portal; launched PEF’s McKinney Center for STEM Education; established three collective impact initiatives in partnership with industry and the School District of Philadelphia; and built PEF’s successful education consulting practice.
Prior to her tenure at PEF, Ms. Jimenez served four years as a gubernatorial appointee to Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission – formerly, the governing body of the School District of Philadelphia. And, her nonprofit leadership experience spans 20 years, including tenures as President and CEO of the People’s Emergency Center and Executive Director of Mt. Airy USA.
Ms. Jimenez holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She also holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Chestnut Hill College and a certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School.
A frequent commentator on civic matters in Philadelphia, Ms. Jimenez has enjoyed brief stints as a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer; is on the board of Broad+Liberty, a digital media platform offering balance to local news and editorial coverage; and can be seen Sundays on Inside Story, a current affairs television show that airs weekly on WPVI, Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate.
