Jeffery Beckham Jr.

Jeffery Beckham Jr. is a nationally recognized education innovator, nonprofit executive, and artist-entrepreneur serving as Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Scholars and Co-CEO of REACH Pathways, an AI-powered career navigation platform helping thousands of young people build the skills, networks, and confidence needed to thrive in the future of work. As CEO of Chicago Scholars, Jeffery leads one of the nation’s largest college access and leadership development organizations, serving more than 6,000 students annually across Chicago. Under his leadership, the organization has embraced innovation, data-driven strategy, and cross-sector partnerships to expand pathways to college, careers, and economic mobility for underrepresented young people. His work centers on reimagining how institutions support students beyond access toward long-term success, belonging, and leadership development. Through REACH Pathways, Jeffery is advancing a bold vision for equitable access to emerging technology and career opportunity. The platform leverages artificial intelligence to provide personalized career exploration, skills development, and mentorship experiences for young people nationwide. By integrating AI fluency into workforce readiness, Jeffery’s work focuses on ensuring that underserved communities are not left behind in the rapidly evolving digital economy. A recognized thought leader at the intersection of education, technology, and social impact, Jeffery regularly speaks on AI literacy, the future of work, and designing systems that unlock human potential at scale. His leadership blends strategic vision with creative practice, informed by his parallel career as a visual artist whose work explores identity, belief, and transformation. Jeffery is an Obama Leader USA, a Chicago Innovation Award recipient, and a frequent collaborator across philanthropy, civic leadership, and the edtech ecosystem. Through both Chicago Scholars and REACH Pathways, he continues to champion bold, equity-driven solutions that empower young people to move from potential to possibility in an AI-enabled world.