About Shawn

Shawn Escoffery is the Executive Director of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation – the foundation invests in innovative solutions and community leaders to build a more just, equitable and sustainable world in which all people thrive. Prior to joining RPDFF Shawn directed the Strong Local Economics program at the Surdna Foundation – a nationally focused family foundation with over $1 billion dollars in assets. In this role, Shawn worked to support the development of robust and sustainable economies that include a wide range of businesses, equitable economic policy and access to quality jobs. As an urban planner with over 15+ years of experience, Shawn has worked on community economic development and affordable housing projects in Newark, Baltimore and New Orleans. Shawn holds a BA in Political Science and English from Rutgers and a Master’s of City Planning from MIT. He also holds certificates in Communications and International Relations, Urban Redevelopment and Effective Leadership from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania and Duke University, respectively.