Sherese Ward is a dynamic leader in education, currently serving as Vice President, Partner Cities with America’s Promise Alliance (APA). There, she leads the local expansion of APA’s member Alliance network across the country. Previously, she served as U.S. Portfolio Director at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, where she oversaw national investments in K12 education. Before this, she was Chief of Staff and Strategy for the Division of Human Capital at the NYC Department of Education, driving innovative strategic agencywide initiatives. And as Special Assistant in the Office of the Superintendent at Newark Public Schools she forged impactful community and corporate partnerships to advance district priorities.

In Connecticut, Sherese was an advisor on fund development, school turnaround projects, and government relations for education nonprofits. As a founding member of the state’s chapter of a national advocacy organization, she was at the forefront of strategic partnership development and legislative advocacy. Her impressive career also includes managing corporate philanthropic investments within Bank of America’s Global Investment Bank in New York.

Sherese’s influence extends beyond her professional roles and is a testament to her dedication to social impact transformation. She serves on the board of Education Reimagined and the Fundraising Committee for New York University’s Alumni Association. She is a Strategic Advisor to the Principal Impact Collaborative at UNT Dallas, a Pahara Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Sherese holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Master of Public Administration, and a Master of Education.