Six New Members Join The Ellis School's Board of Trustees in 2024[]
The Ellis School is pleased to welcome six new members to its Board of Trustees. These individuals have strong ties to the School, and bring a range of skills and experience, as well as a depth of knowledge in their fields, that will benefit Ellis into the future.
Alexis Allen:[]
Currently an event producer, Alexis has experience in project management and fundraising. Prior to going into event production, she was the Director of the Will Allen Foundation. She previously served the University of Pittsburgh as a Charitable Relationship Manager and Development Officer; prior to that, she was the Director of the Athletics Annual Fund at The Ohio State University where she oversaw a 13 million dollar budget. Alexis holds a B.A. in Journalism and an MBA from The Ohio State University. She is an Ellis mom to Eliana ’35.
Elyse Castellano:[]
Elyse is the current Chief Operating and Financial Officer at Hebrew Public Charter Schools for Global Citizens, a Charter Management Organization based in New York City and serving students in New York and Pennsylvania. In this role, Elyse oversees the entire organizational budget (exceeding $40M), operational infrastructures, as well as new school development. A particular focus is capacity building for a rapidly growing educational organization serving students across diverse backgrounds. Prior to joining Hebrew Public, Elyse served as the Business Operations Manager at Success Academy Charter Schools in New York City, where she supported the opening of their first middle school and developed standardized procedures and training that helped the network expand from 7 to 35 schools. Elyse holds an MBA in strategic marketing and finance from the University of Connecticut. Before pursuing her MBA, she worked in various entrepreneurial and non-profit settings. Elyse received her Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. In her spare time, Elyse enjoys playing tennis and swimming with her children. She is excited to join the Ellis board to support Ms. Tyler in leading the next chapter of Ellis.
Vanessa Jameson:[]
Vanessa is a Senior Director of Engineering at Duolingo where she is leading the company's recent expansion into Math and Music education. Prior to Duolingo, she was a startup founder and Google engineer on products including Image Search and Art Project. Vanessa studied Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, where she helped build some of the earliest versions of self-driving cars. She is an Ellis mom to Shay '31 and Sierra '35.
Walt Mancing:[]
Walt is a Senior Vice President/Investments with Stifel and has over twenty years of investment management and financial planning experience. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business with a B.S. in Economics and a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame School of Law. Walt is a native of Western Pennsylvania. He grew up in Beaver Falls and now resides in Gibsonia with his wife Joan and their children. He is the father of one Ellis alumna and a current student: Sofia, Class of 2023; and Gisele, Class of 2027. "Sending our girls to Ellis was the best decision we could have ever made for our children's education,” he said. “Ellis provides a transformational experience. And having the chance to work with the gifted teachers, administrators, and dedicated parents of this school to ensure a future of vibrant changemakers is an honor."
Courtney KRESS McGrory[]
'93: Courtney is a marketing and communications professional, specializing in executive and internal communications, speechwriting, and content marketing. She has built a career in New York City over the past 20 years, primarily working in financial services, as well as in the consulting, publishing and academic sectors. She is currently a senior communications advisor at Rockefeller Capital Management. Courtney is a graduate of Harvard University and the Ellis School. An Ellis lifer who played sports in high school and college, Courtney was inducted into the Ellis Sports Hall of Fame in October 2023. Inspired by Ellis’s evolution and growth over time, Courtney has also enjoyed a greater appreciation for the Ellis connections and community years after graduating. She lives in Pelham, NY, with her husband and three children, currently in middle school, high school and college. In her spare time, Courtney enjoys competitive tennis, yoga and caring for a Guiding Eyes for the Blind breeding dog.
Celia Soehner:[]
As a partner and firmwide leader of the Capital Markets and Public Companies practice at Morgan Lewis, Celia has more than 15 years of experience providing business-minded and strategic legal counsel to public companies across a wide span of industries and sectors. In her role, she helps clients navigate complex disclosure and securities law compliance issues, executive compensation and corporate governance matters, and capital markets transactions. Celia also co-founded and currently co-leads Morgan Lewis’s ESG & Sustainability Advisory practice, working to support clients in developing and implementing policies and practices that align with their values and goals. Celia is a proud Ellis mom to Rose ’38 and Sloane ’34 Greco, and also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Pittsburgh Opera.