Andrew Simmerman

Andrew Simmerman is a non-profit leader, educator, entrepreneur and communications professional currently serving as Director of Community & Donor Relations with KIPP SoCal Public Schools. Most recently Andrew was Vice President of Business Development for RISE San Diego advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at workplaces where he continues as a consultant and facilitator. Prior to joining the KIPP SoCal team, he ran programs for the Jacobs Institute at the University of San Diego and was the Head of Partnerships at Teach For America – San Diego. As part of the Teach For America - San Diego launch team, Andrew played an integral role in building an inclusive organizational environment and was a leader on issues of allyship and listening to understand. Andrew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising from Pepperdine University in 2008 and his Master’s in Education from CUNY – Lehman College while he taught 9th and 10th grade English at a small bilingual high school in the South Bronx as a Teach For America corps member. After returning home to San Diego, he worked with Reality Changers, was part of the inaugural cohort of the RISE San Diego Urban Leadership Fellows Program, is a 2015 graduate of LEAD San Diego IMPACT, completed the Trans-Border Opportunities Certificate Program at USD and was named to San Diego Metropolitan Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of leaders in 2018.