Columbia Engineering Announces Education Leader Jennifer Yu Cheng BS’03 as Undergraduate Class Day Speaker

Jennifer Yu Cheng BS’03 will address the Columbia Engineering Undergraduate Class of 2025 for their Class Day ceremony, May 19, 2025. Cheng is the group president and deputy vice chairwoman of CTF Education Group (CTFEG or “Group”) and the founder of JYC Girls Impact Foundation and the FutureGen Girls Foundation, empowering young women to be future-ready leaders. 

As an education leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Cheng has led CTFEG to become a pioneer in K-12 education innovation that addresses the need for education and pedagogy that can keep pace with a rapidly changing world. Through its schools, programs and services, CTFEG impacts nearly 10,000 students annually across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Chen spearheaded the creation of the Kindervarsity Hub, which brings together K-12 students, educators, researchers, and industry professionals to prepare students for success via a “university model” framework. 

“I’m thrilled to be addressing the Class of 2025!” said Cheng. “Moving from finance to education, I’ve learned a lot about navigating the twists and turns of life, and using my engineering mindset to adapt, lead, and drive change.”

Cheng has also founded organizations dedicated to expanding education access and opportunity, particularly for young women. In 2021, she founded JYC Girls Impact Foundation to better equip teen girls for the future with tech, leadership, and life skills. Her foundation has reached more than 7,000 students from over 100 schools. More recently, Cheng launched The FutureGen Young Women Leaders Award in 2024, in collaboration with nearly 60 organizations from more than 20 industries. 

“As a true innovator in education, Jennifer Yu Cheng has made it her life’s mission to help young people, and in particular young women, learn the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in today’s world,” said Shih-Fu Chang, Dean of Columbia Engineering. “She will be an inspiration to our students and a role model for how to use your talents, creativity, and engineering mindset to build a career that helps others.” 

Cheng is a member of Columbia Engineering’s Board of Visitors and serves as a member of its Campaign Council and co-chair of its Asia-Advisory Group, and is a member of multiple university boards and committees worldwide. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude from Columbia with a BS in industrial engineering and operations research and a minor in economics. Previously, she was an executive director at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities division. 

Class Day ceremonies are the most significant school-specific graduation celebrations at Columbia. The Engineering School’s Class Day is on Monday, May 19, 2025.