Cheye leads Rocketship’s growth and community engagement team that partners with communities, stakeholders, parents, and families to grow and support Rocketship’s network of highly successful public elementary charter schools. Cheye joined Rocketship after seven years with The SEED Foundation where, as chief expansion officer, he worked with communities across the country to explore innovative educational options for underserved students and opened and sustained urban, public college-preparatory boarding schools. Prior to SEED, Cheye worked for multiple state associations, most notably the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), where he served as a policy expert and directed federal affairs on a diverse array of issues impacting states and communities. Early in his career, Cheye worked for the County Council in his native Prince George’s County, Maryland. From 2004 to 2015, Cheye served as the six-time elected mayor of the town of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. In addition to successfully guiding the diverse, vibrant community through tough times, Cheye has been a strong advocate for law enforcement accountability, successfully advancing reform at the state and county levels.

Cheye enjoys hiking, biking, and travel, loves dogs (especially Labrador Retrievers), and has a passion for Italian Renaissance art.  He earned his M.A. in History from the University of Wyoming.