Emily Cho
Emily Cho is the Founder and Executive Director of Juvie for STEM (JSTEM), an international nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality STEM education for justice-involved youth. Through hands-on programming in juvenile detention centers and other carceral settings, JSTEM works to eliminate educational disparities, helping young people build the skills and opportunities needed to pursue meaningful careers and compete on a more equitable economic playing field.
Motivated by firsthand experiences witnessing the lack of educational access in state prisons, Emily recognized how limited learning opportunities often hinder successful reentry and long-term outcomes. Driven by the belief that quality education can transform lives, she founded JSTEM to ensure every child has access to the tools and opportunities needed to reach their full potential, regardless of their past.
Since launching its first class in 2019, JSTEM has expanded across North America, Europe, and Asia, serving more than 20,000 justice-involved youth. The organization has partnered with companies including Microsoft and Google, donated nearly 2,000 laptops and tablets to rural schools, and is helping shape state legislation to improve living conditions and educational opportunities within correctional facilities.
In 2024, Emily was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Education in recognition of her work reducing recidivism through education. Her work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves a second chance—and that a young person's past should never determine their access to the tools, opportunities, and education that drive human progress.
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