Director, Collegiate Scholars
Chicago, IL

Kim Ransom is the inaugural director of the University of Chicago Collegiate Scholars Program (CSP), a three-year enrichment program committed to preparing promising Chicago Public Schools high school students for admission and success at top-tier colleges and universities. 

Kim has been responsible for building CSP including its student body, organizational structure, programming, financing, development, local/national marketing, admissions and staffing. Under Kim’s leadership, 295 CSP alumni successfully matriculated into 86 colleges across 26 states. Over eighty five percent of CSP graduates gain admission to top-tier universities and over seventy percent decide to attend. One hundred percent of graduates attend four-year colleges. Spanning over 40 Chicago public high schools, fifty three percent of CSP students are the first in their families to attend college.

Kim began working with young people 15 years ago as a mentor/volunteer for Elliott Donnelley Youth Center (EDYC) on Chicago’s Southside. Since this time, Kim has been committed to empowering young people to realize and reach their full potential. Kim is a published author, poet and holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature from DePaul University, Chicago. She is a Chicago native and Chicago Public School graduate. She is a recipient of the New York University Women of Color Policy Network Lead the Way Fellowship (2010) and a 2011 Chicago Community Trust Fellow for Emerging Leaders.