Shawn Kim
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Shawn is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PRAIS. Previously, Shawn worked at Bronze Valley, a nonprofit venture capital firm supporting under-resourced entrepreneurs. Shawn was also the Branch Director of Illumna, an educational nonprofit based out of NJ. Shawn has extensive qualitative research experience, having been part of three different research teams at the University of Pennsylvania.
Shawn is also a two-time graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, having attained degrees in Nonprofit Leadership and Sociology, and he has used his knowledge and expertise to grow PRAIS from a class project to a nonprofit venture that has garnered international awards such as the United Nations' Millennium Fellowship and the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U). Shawn was born in Seoul, South Korea but grew up in Queens, NY and Northern NJ. Shawn is a passionate and conscientious person who loves Jesus and desires to help those who are marginalized and underserved in society. Shawn loves to read good fiction, create art, and cheer on the Eagles in his free time.
Background
EDUCATION
M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice
B.A. in Sociology, University of Pennsylvania
WORK EXPERIENCE
Senior Analyst, Bronze Valley
Branch Director, Illumna, Inc.
Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Guaranteed Income Research at Penn
Head Research Assistant, Department of Sociology at Penn
ACHIEVEMENTS
Venture For America Fellow
Clinton Global Initiative University Fellow
United Nations Millennium Fellow
Campaign for Community Award
Bodek Prize for Research on Interracial and Interfaith Relations
Why did you start PRAIS?
Growing up as a low-income, Asian-American student, I experienced many barriers that impacted my experience in school. However, in college, I found a community that embraced me for who I was, which had a positive impact on my academic engagement & performance, sense of belonging, and sense of comfort. This showed me the power of a supportive community and learning environment. As a result, I started PRAIS to help students who are in the shoes I once was in.
What distinguishes PRAIS from other organizations?
PRAIS is not just an education consultant; PRAIS is an education collaborator. We use Design Thinking to work with the school to design solutions not just for students but with them.
What’s a fun fact about PRAIS?
Charles (one of my co-founders) and I went to college together and had many mutual friends but never met one another until the end of our junior year in college. We were both Sociology majors and ended up meeting each other because we had two classes together.