“I deeply believe in the power of community and the collective.”

Summer Search is thrilled to welcome Dr. Christina Cho (She | Her) as our new Executive Director for Summer Search Philadelphia!

Cho started on Monday, December 2, and has already jumped in enthusiastically, connecting with staff, students, alumni, and supporters throughout the Summer Search community.

In her first week, we asked Cho to introduce herself and answer our Three Questions (3Qs): Who are you? Where are you going? How can we help you get there?

[Explore more from Summer Search’s #3Qs series]

We invite you to watch Cho’s welcome video and read more below.

Video Highlights:

• Q1) 0:00-1:24 ~ Who am I?
• Q2) 1:25-2:25 ~ What do I want to be / Where am I going?
• Q3) 2:26-3:45 ~ How can you help me / How can we get there?

A Human-Centered Approach

Cho holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Master’s Degree in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to Summer Search, she completed leadership fellowships at the Texas Education Agency, Harvard University, and Oakland Unified School District and spent six years in various roles at one of our partner schools, Boys Latin of Philadelphia.

As a former education leader, she is passionate about leading with a human-centered approach to create safe and welcoming spaces for students, families, and communities. After growing up in an immigrant household, she understands the importance of being a part of a supportive community – one that may sometimes believe in you even when you might not believe in yourself. Cho recognizes that she would not be who and where she is today without the love of her family, friends, fem/mentors, colleagues, and students.

Creating more Equitable Educational Opportunity

As Cho begins this new chapter with Summer Search, she hopes to be a leader who “creates brave spaces where people are unafraid to bring forward their most creative and innovative ideas knowing that they will be heard.” She invites all who speak to her to bring their unique experiences, areas of expertise, and ideas to the conversation.

In this way, she wants to make sure she is continuing to contribute to the larger movement of creating more equitable educational opportunity – specifically for BIPOC students. She believes deeply in elevating the voices of those most impacted by school systems and creating opportunities for students and families to lead in their school communities.

Join us in welcoming Cho to the Summer Search community!