Jeffery Beckham Jr. is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Chicago Scholar and an award-winning acrylic painter. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Jeffery is a community leader, artist, and serial entrepreneur. He joined Chicago Scholars after working in technology, healthcare and education. In his role as CEO, Jeffery is responsible for leading the organization that serves more than 5,000 first-generation and low-income students to reach their dreams to pursue a college education.  Jeffery’s purpose is working to support traditionally underserved youth, and he uses his national platform to fight for equity in education for urban communities.

 

Amid his numerous impactful leadership positions, Jeffery began painting last year and uses his art for social and economic justice to make an impact in Chicago at Art by Jeffery Beckham. As a self-taught multi-disciplinary artist, his work has been on display around the world and featured in film and television. He is also a sought-after speaker with appearances at McKinsey & Co., Facebook, Groupon, The MX Group and many schools and has been featured as an expert source on Fox-32, ABC, CBS, WBEZ’s Chicago Tonight, WCIU’s The Jam and Chicago. Jeffery’s thoughtful and dedicated leadership has received numerous awards.

 

Awards and Accolades

• In 2016, Jeffery was elected as the community representative on the Local School Council at King College Prep

• serves on the Board of Directors for The 100 Black Men of Chicago, The Congo Square Theater, the Better Boys Foundation

• 2016 New Leaders Council Alum

• Impact Fellowship Alum (2018)

• Civic Action Capstone Fellowship Alum (2019)

• 2020 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder Award Fellow.

• 2015  WVON and Ariel Investments named Jeffery one of Chicago’s Top 40 Game Changers  Under 40 years old

• 2016 finalist for the Chicago Inno 50 on Fire Award

• The RAY Awards 2018-2019 Man of the Year

• 2021 Chicago Defender Man of Excellence

• 2021 he was Awarded the Callahan Celebration of Giving Service award for his work in the community

• 2022 he was selected as a Black Creativity Innovator by the Museum of Science and Industry.