About Us

Our Mission

Young Education Professionals is a nonpartisan organization, created by and for young professionals, that connects tomorrow’s education leaders through relationship-building, knowledge development, career and professional development, and community engagement.

Our Vision

Young Education Professionals will provide tomorrow’s education leaders with opportunities to build connections with their peers around the common goal of improving education through policy, research, and practice.

Our History

The original Young Education Professionals (YEP) was founded in Washington, DC in the late 1990s by leaders such as Michael Petrilli (now Executive Vice President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute) and Jennifer Vranek (now Founding Partner, Education First Consulting). The group was phased out in the early 2000s.

In 2007, Kate Blosveren Kreamer (now Associate Executive Director, National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc)) revived and re-launched the group with the next generation of young education leaders. The group called itself Young Education Professionals-DC (YEP-DC) and earned a strong reputation for connecting tomorrow’s education leaders. In less than four years, YEP-DC grew from fewer than 100 members to over 3,000.

As YEP-DC members moved to other cities and the organization's reputation grew, as did interest in creating new YEP chapters. In spring 2012, YEP launched its expansion with new chapters in Colorado and New York City. The Bay Area, Birmingham, Boston, and Twin Cities chapters followed soon after, with official launches in summer/fall 2012. Our newest chapter, YEP-Triangle North Carolina, launched in spring 2013. As of March 2013, there were 6,500 YEP members across all of the chapters.

YEP is a completely volunteer-run organization.  

Read more about YEP National's leadership.  

Read YEP's frequently asked questions (FAQs) page.

YEP-Colorado

YEP-DC

YEP-NYC

YEP-Twin Cities