University City District’s Board Unanimously Approves Sarah Steltz as President & CEO

University City District’s Board of Directors has announced Sarah Steltz as UCD’s new President & CEO, effective May 1, 2026. Steltz had served as our Interim President and CEO since February of this year. Following a rigorous and structured transition process with the Board, Steltz was confirmed by a unanimous vote by the UCD Board of Directors.

“Sarah Steltz is a proven civic leader with a demonstrated commitment to UCD’s mission and deep experience in building innovative and durable partnerships with communities, industry, anchor institutions, and government that drive opportunity across workforce, economic development, and building a strong sense of community,” said UCD Board Chair John Grady. “UCD’s Board has confidence that Sarah is the ideal choice to lead the organization into the next generation of new partnerships that will build on UCD’s work to date and drive new initiatives that will create opportunity, fuel economic vitality, and advance quality of life across University City.”

Sarah has a long history in the neighborhood she’s now tasked with serving. She spent 10 years at Drexel University in roles focused on economic growth and opportunity before being hired as UCD’s Vice President for Workforce Solutions in 2018. She was then elevated to Executive Director for what was then the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, now known simply as The Skills Initiative.

Sarah departed in 2021 to accept a position as the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department, and then served as the Vice President, Economic Competitiveness for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. She rejoined UCD as the Senior Vice President of Strategy in January of 2024 before being named interim president alongside departing President Matt Bergheiser in February of 2026, when Bergheiser announced a plan to step down after 16 years leading UCD.

Since returning to the organization, Sarah has played a central role in advancing UCD’s strategic direction, recruiting and developing talent, strengthening relationships with local and state government, and launching major organizational change initiatives that are shaping UCD’s next phase of growth.

“There’s no place I’d rather be than UCD,” said Steltz. “I’m excited to step into this role in the neighborhood where I’ve spent most of my career—and one that I genuinely believe is the most exciting neighborhood in Philadelphia. I’m thrilled to build on the strong foundation Matt Bergheiser created and work with the Board and outstanding team here to chart UCD’s next chapter with bold ideas, new collaborations, and a relentless belief that nearly anything is possible through strong, authentic partnership.”

High on Steltz’s list of priorities is positioning UCD to play an even more visible role in driving inclusive economic growth. This includes a comprehensive, community-informed vision for public space, spanning both catalytic projects and smaller, high-impact interventions, along with continuing to expand The Skills Initiative as a national model for employer-driven workforce development, while guiding its next phase of impact. More broadly, Steltz will work to strengthen University City’s role as a leading job center by supporting anchor institutions, employers, and commercial corridors alike, while remaining grounded in UCD’s core Clean and Safe services and its mission to make University City a place where people, communities, and businesses can thrive.

“University City has long been a foundation of Philadelphia’s economic resilience, lifting the city through challenging periods and amplifying growth across the region,” continued Steltz. “That same engine of talent and innovation will continue to help define and deliver Philadelphia’s next economy.”

The numbers from UCD’s forthcoming 2026 State of University City publication back this up. In 2025 alone, more than 1.4 million square feet of development came online, valued at over $790 million, pushing University City’s total real estate value to $12 billion. In a moment when many markets are slowing, University City keeps building. More than 84,000 people work in University City, accounting for over 11% of all Philadelphia jobs concentrated on less than 2% of the city’s land. Nearly 80% of those jobs pay above $40,000 a year.

UCD drives a dense, deliberate concentration of opportunity that reaches households and communities far beyond these few square miles. “In doing so,” says Steltz, “University City signals to investors, employers, and talent: University City is where you put your bet.”