She Started in a Detroit Classroom. Now She's Leading the Whole Network.

University Prep Schools | Detroit 90/90 has a new CEO, and her story starts right here in Detroit.

Djeneba "DJ" Cherif has been named the next Chief Executive Officer of University Prep Schools | Detroit 90/90, effective May 11, 2026. The appointment was made with the full support of the Public School Academies of Detroit Board.

If you want to understand who DJ is, start here: she did not come from a corporate boardroom or a think tank. She came from a Detroit classroom.

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Who Is DJ Cherif?

DJ began her career as a Teach For America Detroit Corps Member, teaching math to Detroit students. That experience shaped everything that came after.

In 2018, she joined University Prep Schools as Senior Director of K-5 Math Curriculum and Instruction. She did not leave. Over the next eight years, she kept growing, Senior Director of K-12 Math, then Executive Director of K-12 Academics, then Chief Academic Officer. She learned this network from the inside out.

"I am deeply honored to step into this role," said Cherif. "University Prep Schools has always believed that every Detroit scholar deserves a world-class education. I am committed to working alongside our families, teachers, and community partners to make that promise real for every child, every day."

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A Leader Built for This Moment

DJ is not just experienced; she is credentialed at the highest levels.

She is a proud alumna of Hampton University and holds a Master's in Education and Urban Pedagogy from the University of Michigan. She has completed fellowships with GSV Google Innovation, TeachMichigan Systems Leader, TeachBlue at U of M's Marsal Family School of Education, and the Broad Fellowship for Public Education Leadership at the Yale School of Management.

In 2025, she was recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the District Administration Leadership Institute.

She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and serves on boards that support educators and students.

All of that, and she never stopped working directly with Detroit scholars.

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What This Means for U Prep Families

DJ steps into this role with one clear focus: every scholar thrives.

That means college-ready. Future-ready. Community-minded. Those are not just words at University Prep Schools; they are the standard. And DJ has spent eight years making sure we meet it.

She will work closely with families, teachers, community partners, and staff. She believes the best decisions for scholars happen when everyone at the table has a voice.

Outgoing Interim CEO John Cleary will transition to Interim COO, ensuring continuity and a strong leadership team as DJ steps in.

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Detroit Grew Her. Now She's Giving It Back.

There is something powerful about a leader who was shaped by the very community she now serves.

DJ Cherif did not just study Detroit education from afar. She lived it as a teacher, as a curriculum leader, as a chief academic officer. She knows what our families need because she has been listening to them for nearly a decade.

That is the kind of leader University Prep Schools | Detroit 90/90 has always deserved.

Please join us in welcoming DJ Cherif as our new CEO. This is a great day for U Prep and a great day for Detroit.

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Enroll Your Scholar for 2026-2027

There has never been a better time to be part of the U Prep family. We are enrolling scholars now for the 2026-2027 school year.

Apply: admissions@uprepschools.com | uprepschools.com