The Ellis School

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  • Careers
    Careers The Ellis School is deeply committed to its all-girls environment, which allows each girl to develop into her own unique best self in an atmosphere that both challenges and cherishes each student. Ellis prepares its students to become independent, resilient, thoughtful young women with the ...
  • Two Actresses from the National Tour of "Hamilton" Visit Ellis
    News • 3/28/2019
    Actresses Hannah Cruz (Eliza) and Stephanie Umoh (Angelica) from the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical  Hamilton  visited Ellis to speak with Upper School students about their musical backgrounds, careers, and experiences in the wildly popular show.
  • Tegan Poerio Breaks Field Hockey Career Goal Record
    News • 10/29/2018
    Tegan Poerio, Class of 2021, broke the field hockey career goal record on October 9. With the 27th goal of her sophomore season, Tegan broke the record of 58 goals previously held by Mackenzie HANEY '15.
  • Alumnae Celebrate Reunion Weekend
    News • 10/26/2018
    The Ellis School was thrilled to have alumnae back on campus, October 12–14, 2018, for Reunion Weekend. From a career panel to an art workshop and museum tour, it was a memorable weekend of reconnecting and reminiscing at Ellis.
  • Having A Baby And A Startup: How FlexJobs Was Born
    News • 12/12/2012
    Ellis alumna Sara SUTTON Fell '92 was profiled in Forbes Magazine for her business, FlexJobs. She was also honored by Workforce Management as a “2011 Game Changer”.
  • Ellis Alum Earns All-American Honors
    News • 6/11/2010
    Be sure to read the great Post-Gazette article highlighting Ellis alum Paulette Cutruzzula's '06 stellar college athletic career. You can read it by clicking here and going to the Ellis Alumnae in the News channel. Congratulations Paulette!
  • Women in STEM Panel Inspires Middle and Upper School Students
    News • 12/12/2023
    Middle and Upper School students had the privilege of attending a special panel on Women in STEM, which included Ellis alumnae and parents of current students.
  • Ellis Sophomore Selected To Attend USRowing Camp
    News • 5/10/2019
    Audrey Lyda, Class of 2021, has been selected to attend the exclusive 2019 USRowing U18 High-Performance Camp where she will train, race, and ultimately compete against fellow elite rowers at the 2019 USRowing National Championships on Lake Harsha in Bethel, Ohio. 
  • Ellis Launches Alumnae Networking App
    News • 10/1/2017
    The Ellis School is proud to launch Ellis Alumnae Connect , a new private networking platform designed specifically for alumnae! Ellis Alumnae Connect offers alumnae a place to mentor, recruit, reminisce, and engage with Ellis graduates who can bolster professional and personal development.
  • Ellis Senior Commits to Albright College for Lacrosse
    News • 5/2/2017
    Ellis senior Miranda Jones, Class of 2017, signed her letter of intent to play NCAA Division III Lacrosse at Albright College on Thursday, April 20. A fierce competitor and teammate, Miranda has played lacrosse at Ellis since the sixth grade, and has spent the last four years as a defender on the va ...
  • Ellis Alumna Named Presidential Research Scholar
    News • 7/1/2016
    Leila Reines ‘16, who will attend Cornell University in the fall, has been selected a Hunter R. Rawlings III Cornell Presidential Research Scholar. Reines was one of just 200 incoming students at Cornell University selected for this honor due to her academic excellence and devotion to research ...
  • Deane Marchbein, M.D. ’68 to speak at Cum Laude ceremony
    News • 3/30/2016
    Deane Marchbein, M.D. ’68 will be the speaker at this year’s Cum Laude ceremony on April 20, 2016. Dr. Marchbein is currently the President of the United States Board of Directors for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. She began her association with Doctors Witho ...
  • Ellis junior represents Ellis at Girls Rock Science
    News • 10/13/2015
    Taylor Robinson ’17 represented The Ellis School at the Girls Rock Science℠ Weekend at Carnegie Science Center on Sunday, October 4. She was invited to participate in the event as a winner of the SciTech Science and Engineering Fair in March 2015 for her entry Cyber Psychology . Taylor, ...
  • Littsburgh: Turning the Page on Pittsburgh’s Literary Scene
    News • 9/29/2015
    When Pittsburgh native Rachel EKSTROM Courage ’98 decided to pursue a career in the literary world she did what any aspiring professional would do—she moved to New York City. She’s back, and writing the book (actually, it’s a website) on the city’s ever-expanding litera ...
  • Ellis student to take part in GirlGov
    News • 5/20/2015
    Congratulations to Ellis 10th grader Madisen Daily. She was selected by the Women and Girls Foundation to take part in the 6th Annual GirlGov program this summer. GirlGov is a groundbreaking program created by teens for teens, through which young women from the greater Pittsburgh region gain first-h ...
  • Ellis students honored by Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
    News • 4/9/2014
    Ellis students inspire others on and off the field. On May 18, Ellis seniors Carley Fritsch and Li Milch will be among the student athletes receiving the 2014 Nathan H. Kaufmann Scholastic Award.  Carley plays Ellis varsity field hockey. Li plays Ellis varsity basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. ...
  • Space Day
    News • 4/18/2012
    The girls of second grade spent the morning of April 17 learning how to live and work in space.
  • Dickens Day
    News • 2/8/2012
    John Miller, Ph.D., former Head of the English department at The Ellis School, returned on February 7, 2012 to celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens.
  • Ellis Alumna Named Distinguished Daughter of PA
    News • 10/19/2011
    Ellis alumna Annie DOAK Dillard '63 has been named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania. ; This program honors women who have shown distinguished service through a professional career or volunteer service.
  • Ellis Students Named US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans
    News • 6/23/2011
    Recent Ellis graduates, Talia Aizenman, Alana Ganz and Norah Karlovich were named 2011 US Lacrosse Academic All-Americans for their role as top students and top high school lacrosse players.
  • Being Bold in the Alumnae Community
    News • 11/20/2024
    For an Ellis alumna, being bold means harnessing the confidence and values cultivated during your time at Ellis to uplift and empower others. It’s about challenging the status quo, driving meaningful change, and creating opportunities—not just for ourselves, but for those who follow in o ...
  • Courtney KRESS McGrory '93 Inducted into Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame
    News • 10/25/2023
    Courtney KRESS McGrory ’93 has been inducted into the Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame in honor of her athletic achievements during her time at Ellis and beyond. Courtney's induction was celebrated during Reunion Weekend 2023 at an Ellis varsity soccer game.
  • Class of 2023 College Commitments
    News • 5/30/2023
    The Ellis School is proud to announce the Class of 2023’s college matriculation list. The 38 members of this year’s graduating class will attend 30 distinct higher education institutions across twelve different states.
  • Lauren Fajobi to Lead Ellis Upper School
    News • 4/6/2023
    Lauren Fajobi has accepted the position of Upper School Division Head at The Ellis School, effective July 1, 2023.
  • P.E. Teacher to Be Inducted into WPIAL Hall of Fame
    News • 2/8/2022
    Middle School Physical Education Teacher Brianne Kelly has been selected for induction into the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Hall of Fame. Ms. Kelly, who also serves as a coach for Ellis’ Middle School soccer and lacrosse teams, is one of 16 inductees in the WPI ...
  • Senior to Run Cross Country and Track at Collegiate Level
    News • 2/7/2022
    Meghan McNabb, Class of 2022, will go from Tiger to Griffin when she joins the Division II Cross Country and Track and Field teams at Seton Hill University this fall. Meghan, who plans to enroll in Seton Hill’s 5-year Integrated Master’s program for Nutrition and Dietetics, signed her Na ...
  • Sharing the Joy of Problem-solving
    News • 12/8/2021
    I was lucky to be raised by parents who were terrific problem solvers, and who made it clear that they wanted, and expected, me and my siblings to be good problem solvers as well.
  • Class of 2021 College Commitments
    News • 5/19/2021
    ...n paths and commit to a school that not only supports who they are now, but who they will become. This year’s class of 29 students will attend 23 institutions across the country and has shown a strong interest in pursuing careers in engineering, public policy, and creative writing.  ...
  • Alumna Inducted Into PA Track and Field Hall of Fame
    News • 5/19/2021
    Ellis alumna Heather HANCHAK Moss '97 has been elected to the Pennsylvania High School Track and Field Hall of Fame . An outstanding sprinter at Ellis, Heather’s athletic accomplishments include:
  • Senior Named WPIAL Scholar-Athlete
    News • 4/26/2021
    Tegan Poerio, Class of 2021, has been named a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Scholar-Athlete . One of twenty students honored in the region, Tegan earned one of the ten spots for female high-school athletes across WPIAL sections and classes. She will receive a $1,000 sc ...
  • Ellis Establishes Edna Jones Endowed Library Chair
    News • 4/7/2021
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the creation of the Edna Jones Endowed Library Chair. A mark of professional distinction, the Endowed Library Chair has been appointed to School Librarian Sara Brooke. 
  • Artist Laura Berman Virtually Visits Kindergarten
    News • 1/13/2021
    ... ve girls the opportunity to learn about different careers and professions as they themselves consider what they want to be “when they grow up.” For the Class of 2033, their opportunity came in the form of an artist talk with Laura Berman, a printmaker who often draws inspiration from ...
  • A Digital Debut for the Upper School Fall Play
    News • 11/6/2020
    To say that this year’s fall play was a show unlike any other would be an understatement. From wearing masks in rehearsals and throughout recordings to staging a show that allows for social distancing, this year’s cast and crew of “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play” put their c ...
  • Elissa McCARTHY Tessier '95 Inducted Into Athletic Hall of Fame
    News • 10/13/2020
    Dr. Elissa McCARTHY Tessier '95 has been inducted into the Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame. Elissa was chosen for her outstanding athletic accomplishments and contributions as a student-athlete during her time at The Ellis School.
  • Ellis Welcomes New Trustee to the Board
    News • 9/4/2020
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Freedman to the Board of Trustees. Effective July 2020, Laura will work with fellow trustees and Board Chair, Mike Haggerty, to guide The Ellis School’s strategic vision for the future.
  • A Note About Reunion Weekend 2020
    News • 8/27/2020
    We have made the tough decision to celebrate Reunion Weekend 2020 virtually. We will miss seeing everyone back on campus for our usual three days of fun but our top priority is the safety of our students, faculty, and, of course, you. 
  • Ellis Student Honored with Human Relations Award
    News • 11/17/2020
    Aniya Akhtar, Class of 2020, has been awarded the 2020 Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Award . Presented by the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee, the recognition is awarded to a student who has shown initiative and leadership in combating prejudice and fostering relationships between diverse groups in ...
  • Class of 2020 College Commitments
    News • 5/26/2020
    ...ry and has shown a strong interest in pursuing careers in medicine, health, business, and computer science. As changemakers now and in the future, the Class of 2020 is prepared to use the power of their unique voices, perspectives, and experiences to make their own indelible mark on the world. ...
  • Senior to Continue Basketball Career in College
    News • 5/22/2020
    Natalie Graf, Class of 2020, will trade in her green and white for black and yellow when she joins The Pratt Institute’s Women’s Basketball Team in the fall. A team leader and sharp shooter for the Tigers, Natalie was a key factor in the team’s success and historic run in the WPIAL ...
  • Ellis Student Named WPIAL 2A Basketball Player of the Year
    News • 4/3/2020
    Natalie Jasper, Class of 2021, has earned postseason honors and accolades in recognition of her excellence and athleticism on the basketball court this year. Natalie has been named the WPIAL 2A Girls Basketball Player of the Year and has also earned spots on the All-State Team and the  WPIAL Al ...
  • Alumnae Raise Awareness About the Twentieth Century Club
    News • 1/22/2020
    ...n Ellis graduate, she is well-versed in how powerful these spaces can be and is eager to find somewhere adult women can connect across careers, life experiences, and communities. A place where they can gather, share ideas, support each other, and form strong personal and professional networks. ...
  • Junior Basketball Player Scores 1,000 Career Points
    News • 1/22/2020
    Natalie Jasper, Class of 2021, reached a major milestone on Monday, January 20 as she scored her 1,000th career point as a member of the Ellis Varsity Basketball Team. Natalie’s 1,000th point came in the form of a free throw and was just one of 21 points she scored in the Tigers’ win ove ...
  • Artful Adaptations of Computer Science
    News • 1/31/2019
    Grade 6 students are fusing together computer science and visual arts in an interdisciplinary robotics project. Tasked with making robotic representations of plants and animals that they have learned about in science class, the Class of 2025 is working with papier-mâché, balloons, paints, ...
  • Exploring History Through Current Events
    News • 1/31/2019
    In 1999, U.S. journalists and scholars selected the top 100 news events of the 20th century. As part of the grade 8 history curriculum at The Ellis School, students write their first scholarly research paper about one of those events.
  • Bestselling Young Adult Author Hosts Writing Workshops
    News • 1/29/2019
    Siobhan Vivian , New York Times bestselling author, joined Middle and Upper School English classes to teach creative writing workshops on January 7. Familiar with her books  The List ,  Stay Sweet , and  Not That Kind of Girl , Ellis students opened their laptops and notebooks with ex ...
  • Anatomy Students View Heart Surgery at AGH
    News • 1/24/2019
    Upper School students viewed an open-heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) as part of their anatomy class on January 17. The class sat in a viewing area above the operating room and peered through a glass window to watch the AGH team in action as surgeons performed a thoracotomy, an oper ...
  • Esteemed Educators Celebrated as Endowed Faculty Chairs
    News • 11/26/2018
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of three distinguished Endowed Faculty Chairs. A mark of professional distinction, the Endowed Faculty Chair appointees display a resolute commitment to academic excellence and The Ellis School’s teaching philosophy and mission.
  • Developing Changemakers
    News • 11/1/2018
    In my first article of the year, I shared four hopes and dreams I have for Ellis students, one of which is for them to develop into the kind of women who are completely undeterred by challenging situations, who enjoy finding creative solutions to tricky problems, and who will leave us ready and comm ...
  • 2018 Sara Frazer Ellis Award Recipient
    News • 10/18/2018
    In honor of her steadfast commitment to all-girls education, philanthropy, and service, The Ellis School is proud to name Peggy MATHIESON Conver ’73 as the recipient of the 2018 Sara Frazer Ellis Award. The Sara Frazer Ellis Award is given annually to an alumna whose achievements represent the ...
  • Cum Laude Inductees Exhibit Academic Excellence
    News • 4/20/2018
    The Ellis School inducted outstanding student scholars into the Cum Laude Society on Wednesday, April 18. Yumika Amemiya, Class of 2019; Emmy Hsiung, Class of 2019; Emma Schell, Class of 2019; Olivia Simon, Class of 2018; and Yolanda Zheng, Class of 2018 were recognized for their academic excellence ...
  • Speaker Series Welcomes Ellis Community Professionals
    News • 4/9/2018
    From seeing the technique and talent of a florist firsthand to hearing what it takes to make it as an NCAA referee, the Class of 2025 has learned about a variety of different professions from Ellis families and friends this year as part of the grade 5 speaker series. Throughout the year, parents and ...
  • Ellis Students Watch Heart Surgery at AGH
    News • 2/1/2018
    Upper School students viewed an open-heart surgery at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) as part of their anatomy class on January 17. The class sat in a viewing area above the operating room and peered through a glass window to watch the AGH team in action as they performed a pulmonary thromboendarte ...
  • Carnegie Mellon Engineering Students Visit Ellis
    News • 11/13/2017
    Carnegie Mellon University mechanical engineering students representing woMEn@CMU , a professional organization dedicated to connecting and supporting fellow female engineers, visited The Ellis School on Friday, October 27, 2017. The group joined the Middle School FIRST LEGO League robotics team pra ...
  • Ellis Hosts Chatham Students
    News • 9/7/2017
    The Ellis School was proud to partner with Chatham University on August 25, 2017 as part of the Chatham Career Launch. The Chatham Career Launch initiative partners Pittsburgh institutions and businesses with incoming Chatham University students to offer them a real-world glimpse of professions with ...
  • Ellis Students Visit IBM and UPMC
    News • 1/27/2017
    ...m Team visited UPMC Enterprises in Bakery Square and IBM in Squirrel Hill on Wednesday, January 24 to learn about the careers of data analytics professionals. Students heard how data fuels strategies and programs, and how UPMC and IBM integrates technology and innovation into their long-term visi ...
  • Local Student Wins Pratt Scholarship
    News • 9/6/2016
    The face of infant Gigi Nieson came through on a fax from China shortly before her American parents adopted her. "I was imaging even then," the 18-year old Friendship resident and fashion student said. Nieson recently received a full scholarship to attend New York City’s Pratt Institute this f ...
  • Ellis senior signs letter of intent for Division I Basketball
    News • 11/16/2015
    On November 16, Ellis senior Dayna Rouse, Class of 2016, signed her letter of intent to play NCAA Division I Basketball at Longwood University. Rouse played basketball all four years at The Ellis School, playing a vital role in clenching the team’s first playoff berth in over a decade in the 2 ...
  • Made with Code
    News • 10/14/2015
    A group of middle school students and teachers from Ellis attended Google’s Pittsburgh offices for Made with Code. Made with Code is an after school event of programs and resources that encourage girls to explore the world of computer science. During the visit the girls were challenged to ...
  • Anna Redcay to chair Ellis English Department
    News • 8/24/2015
    Anna Redcay, Ph.D. has been named Chair of the English Department and Upper School English Teacher. An instructor since 2005 at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Redcay is known for balancing intellectual rigor in the classroom with cheerful support. A highly experienced teacher, she recently comple ...
  • Peruvian Congresswoman speaks at Ellis
    News • 4/29/2015
    Ellis Upper School students heard from Congresista Carmen Omonte on April 28, 2015 when she spoke to students about the role of women and politics in Peru. Ellis AP Spanish students shared the stage with her and translated her talk, live and in real time, into English for faculty and students. World ...
  • Ellis Alumna named Boston Globe Political Editor
    News • 2/26/2015
    Ellis graduates continue to lead the way. Shira TOEPLITZ Center ‘01 is the newest political editor for The Boston Globe , one of the most influential and respected newspapers in the United States. Shira, the former politics editor for Roll Call , will take her new post in March. Last year, The ...
  • Ellis anatomy students view heart surgery
    News • 1/22/2015
    Ellis chemistry teacher Erica Holtgraver took her Upper School Anatomy and Physiology class to Allegheny General Hospital on January 15 to observe an open heart surgery. Students observed the surgery from an observation room that was separated from the operating theater by a glass partition.
  • Welcome Back, Bayh!
    News • 10/1/2014
    Bayh SULLIVAN ’02 returned to Ellis this fall, not as an alumna but as our new Director of Admission and Financial Aid. Bayh's career includes serving as an admissions officer for Bryn Mawr College, director of the annual fund at Germantown Friends School, and consulting and client services ma ...
  • Making the world a welcoming place for our girls
    News • 1/31/2014
    The bitter cold reminds me of the important role that we, as adults, have in making the world beyond School as welcoming as possible for Ellis students. A key aspect of this "warm up" is introducing our girls to role models and mentors. Here are three ways Ellis is introducing our girls to inspiring ...
  • Two Ellis students accepted to Westinghouse Science Honors Institute
    News • 10/11/2013
    Ellis juniors Wenqin Wang '15 of Fox Chapel and Zijing Li '15 of Friendship have both been accepted into the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute. Li and Weng join a group of nearly 500 high school juniors from Western PA who were nominated based on high academic standing and a passion for STEM lea ...
  • Ellis junior honored for computing achievements
    News • 4/18/2013
    Congratulations to Naoka Gunawardena '14, national runner-up and regional winner of the National Center for Women and Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing Award. Naoka was honored at a ceremony Saturday, April 13 with 13 NCWIT honorees, held at The William Pitt Ballroom at the University of P ...
  • Ellis team earns a second place robotics award
    News • 1/24/2013
    STEAM Powered Girls, the Ellis Middle School FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competitive robotics team, won the second place “core values” award out of 50 teams at the FLL Grand Championship on January 19 at the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) in Pittsburgh.
  • Ellis girls to serve as peer-to-peer tech mentors
    News • 5/2/2012
    Nearly 100 Ellis Middle and Upper School girls know Scratch, a computer programming language developed at MIT, and some have used it to develop their own games.
  • A Visit from a Princess
    News • 2/15/2012
    Author, actress, educator, daughter, sister, and African princess. Sarah Culberson is all of these things.
  • Simple Sugars Smoothest Road Trip Ever
    News • 8/31/2011
    "Ellen or Bust" is the guiding force behind Ellis senior Lani Lazzari's road trip across America. Beginning September 15th, Lani will begin a cross country road trip focused on promoting entrepreneurship to young women, campaigning for safe cosmetics, and spreading smoothness, with the final goal be ...
  • GreenSheet Blog
    ...In our school community, sports can be a key tool for helping students develop important life skills—skills they can carry with them throughout their academic careers and beyond. Sort Posts by Date < 2025 January February March April May June July August September October November Decemb ...
  • The Role of Sport in Positive Youth Development at The Ellis School
    News • 1/29/2025
    ...the development of young people, offering valuable opportunities for growth that extend far beyond athletic skills. In our school community, sports can be a key tool for helping students develop important life skills—skills they can carry with them throughout their academic careers and beyo ...
  • Lucy FATO ’84 Named Sara Frazer Ellis Award Winner
    News • 8/26/2024
    The 2024 Sara Frazer Ellis Award will be presented during Reunion Weekend to Lucy FATO ’84. The award is presented annually to an Ellis alumna whose achievements embody the School’s mission and what it means to be an Ellisian.
  • Ellis Pillars Reflected in Connections with Alumnae
    News • 11/6/2023
    Ellis alumnae returned to campus in October for Reunion Weekend, a tradition that allows them to reconnect with classmates and relive precious memories, and that gives faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to learn more about the women who once lived and learned at Ellis.
  • Shanan GUINN '93 Named Sara Frazer Ellis Award Winner
    News • 10/25/2023
    Shanan GUINN '93 has been honored as the 2023 recipient of the Sara Frazer Ellis Award. Granted annually to an Ellis alumna whose achievements embody the School's mission, the award was presented to Shanan by Head of School Macon Finley at the Reunion Weekend luncheon.
  • Sarah MULLINS '88 Recognized by Fashion Institute of Technology
    News • 1/3/2022
    Ellis alumna Sarah MULLINS '88 has been recognized with the Fashion Institute of Technology Faculty Excellence Award.
  • Alumnae Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
    News • 11/10/2021
    The Ellis School is proud to announce that Emma GILMORE Kieran ’96 and Liz JOHNSON Barnes ’81 have been inducted into the Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame.
  • Ellis Appoints Three New Trustees to the Board
    News • 7/26/2021
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of three new trustees to the Board. Effective July 2021, these new appointments will work with Board Chair, Elizabeth Riordan, to guide The Ellis School’s strategic vision for the future.
  • Sarah ZIMMERMAN Tuthill '87, Founder and Owner of ezpz gatherings
    News • 5/26/2021
    Sarah ZIMMERMAN Tuthill ’87 had always dreamed of opening her own business. So, with a love of all things food, wine, and design, she opened Gathering Boards by ezpz gatherings in 2020 as a way to bring people together.Throughout the pandemic,  she offered charcuterie boxes to go and now, ...
  • A State of Constant Iteration and Creativity
    News • 10/12/2020
    Although the start to the 2020 – 21 school year has been unlike any other in my tenure at Ellis, there are facets of the experience that remain unchanged: the excitement of students seeing each other after a long break, the refresh in campus spaces as we prepare to welcome those students back, ...
  • Kilolo Luckett Inspires Creativity and Compassion
    News • 9/19/2019
    The Ellis School was thrilled to host Kilolo Luckett for the first Middle and Upper School assembly of the 2019–2020 school year. An art historian and cultural producer, Kilolo spoke about her background, her zig-zagging career path, and her powerful work as a historian and curator at museums ...
  • Two Longtime Ellis Teachers to Retire
    News • 5/24/2019
    The Ellis School will say goodbye and good luck to two beloved educators, Lower School Music Teacher Pat Crosby and Grade 2 Teacher Terri Wilson, upon their retirement at the end of the 2018–2019 school year. Both staples in the Lower School community for over three decades, Ms. Crosby and Ms. ...
  • Senior Awarded Scholarships for Excellence in Architecture
    News • 5/17/2019
    Lauren Jasper, Class of 2019, has been awarded two scholarships from the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program of America in honor of her exemplary participation in the program and outstanding future potential. A member of ACE since 2015, Lauren’s artistic ability and ey ...
  • What Defines "Good Work"?
    News • 4/29/2019
    In thinking about the anecdotes we often share about Ellis students,  I began to think about these as stories of Ellis girls “saving the world.” Of course, that’s way too heavy a task to ask of young children and teenagers, and yet our girls do make a real difference in the wo ...
  • Preparing Ellis Seniors for College and Beyond
    News • 1/28/2019
    ...e also prepared to launch through several formative senior year activities: the Senior Project, Senior Thesis, and Senior Seminar. It is because of their engagement with these intellectual ventures that our students walk across the commencement stage well equipped to tackle their collegiate caree ...
  • Students Partner with Global Clients
    News • 4/3/2018
    Grade 11 students in Global Leadership by Design are partnering with local, global organizations Building New Hope, The Global Switchboard, Never Fear Being Different, Prototype PGH, and Ujamaa Collective for a social-action project. To enhance their global knowledge and cultural awareness, students ...
  • Grade 4 Plays the Stock Market
    News • 1/26/2018
    Grade 4 students will get a glimpse of Wall Street as they try their hand (and their luck) in a stock market simulator game this month. Designed to introduce students to strategic thinking and financial literacy, the game, which students will play over the next three months, has shown to improve aca ...
  • Digital Citizenship Course Debuts in Upper School
    News • 1/23/2018
    What does it mean to be a good digital citizen? Grade 9 students are exploring that question in Integrated Studies: Foundations of Digital Studio, a new course addition in the Upper School this year. Designed to build students’ understanding of digital citizenship, the course teaches students ...
  • 2017 Sara Frazer Ellis Award Recipient
    News • 10/19/2017
    In honor of her steadfast commitment to all-girls education, philanthropy, and service, The Ellis School is proud to name Susan SCHUMACHER Morris ’62 as the recipient of the 2017 Sara Frazer Ellis Award. The Sara Frazer Ellis Award is given annually to an alumna whose achievements represent th ...
  • The Ellis School Visited by Female Leaders from Uber
    News • 3/17/2017
    ... ct with as they consider college majors or future careers in the tech industry. Their visit not only shined a light on potential professions and opportunities for students, but showed them that they could end up in their very position in the near future. With the computer science& ...
  • Ellis Computer Science Students Visit Oculus VR
    News • 3/8/2017
    Ellis students visited the Oculus Research Office based in Pittsburgh to learn more about the rapidly evolving state of virtual reality. The Oakland office serves as an innovation and research hub for the company which manufactures and specializes in virtual reality hardware and software products.
  • Ellis Engineering Students Win Design Competition
    News • 3/6/2017
    Engineering Design students in grades 11 and 12 won first place for their “Hair Up!” entry in the regional Student Design Competition sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Lab (HERL) as an extension of their Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program. C ...
  • Ellis Student Finishes in Top Ten at Math Competition
    News • 2/17/2017
    Ellis student Stephanie Somlo, Class of 2022, placed tenth overall out of more than one hundred students at the MATHCOUNTS competition at the A.W. Beattie Career Center on Saturday, February 11. Stephanie and the Ellis team went head-to-head against local schools to test their mathematical, probabil ...
  • Ellis Sophomore Earns Spot at Disney Dreamers Academy
    News • 1/9/2017
    Pittsburgh, PA, January 9, 2017 – Hand-picked from thousands of applicants, Lauren Jasper, a sophomore at The Ellis School, has been accepted into the tenth annual Disney Dreamers Academy. The Disney Dreamers Academy is a four-day event in March at Walt Disney World in Orlando in which 100 sel ...
  • More Power to Her: Leadership in the Middle School
    News • 11/17/2016
    The Middle School years at Ellis are filled with opportunities for students to explore and develop leadership. Faculty and staff encourage and guide students to become leaders in the classroom, in athletics and the stage, and by participating in our Ellis Entrepreneurship program.
  • Ellis to Participate in Google's Geek Street Fair
    News • 9/30/2016
    ...r is an interactive event to inspire kids to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and computer science. The event is open to the public and community partners include technology companies, community based organizations, museums, and content creators from across Pittsbur ...
  • Three new Trustees join the Board of The Ellis School
    News • 8/29/2016
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees: Elisa Lenore Lucke, Jill J. Swensen, and janera solomon .  Effective July 2016, these new appointees joined the Board of Trustees in guiding The Ellis School in its mission of preparing, empow ...
  • Interview with Coach Scott
    News • 10/25/2015
    Recently, I sat down with Coach Scott, our new Director of Athletics, to talk about her goals for Ellis athletics, what it was like to be a college athlete and coach, what advice she has for student athletes, and much more.
  • Citizens of the World
    News • 10/12/2015
    I’ve often heard people talk about the “Ellis Bubble,” both as a reflection of the uniqueness and comfort of Ellis and to describe an insular and protective cocoon from a bygone era. Times have certainly changed. Although Ellis remains a safe and nurturing place for girls to learn ...
  • Class of 2015 College Decisions
    News • 5/3/2015
    Congratulations to the Class of 2015 Dear Ellis Community Members and Friends, We are pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2015. This tight-knit group of 30 young women has been accepted to more than 80 colleges and universities, listed below. Even more remarkable is that 100% of ...
  • Class of 2015 College Decisions
    News • 5/1/2015
    We are pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2015. This tight-knit group of 30 young women has been accepted to more than 80 colleges and universities, listed below. Even more remarkable is that 100% of those who sought college merit scholarships received awards.
  • Hours and Hours of Code at Ellis!
    News • 12/9/2014
    The Ellis School has a major, year-round commitment to computer science, robotics, and engineering. Here's what we're doing every day this week to celebrate An Hour of Code , a nationwide initiative by CSEdWeek and code.org to introduce computer programming to 10 million students and encourage them ...
  • Ellis joins national network for girls in STEM
    News • 1/30/2014
    ...d in STEM with young alumnae and women leaders from STEM-related universities, labs, companies, and organizations around the world. The GAINS Scholar Network will provide role models, virtual mentors, and networking opportunities for women and girls at various stages of their educations and caree ...
  • The View From My Window: How Do We Empower Girls? Courtney Martin Shapes our Thinking
    News • 9/30/2013
    Courtney Martin, author and journalist, recently spent two days at Ellis talking with the girls about their voice and the power they possess within themselves. ; Ms. Martin is a graduate of Barnard College and has spent much of her professional career writing about the new feminism and challenges gi ...
  • College Update – January 2013
    News • 1/14/2013
    by Joanna Schultz, Director of College Counseling For the 44 members of the Ellis class of 2013, the first part of the college process is almost over. ; ; The vast majority of applications have been submitted – 302 in total, or an average of 6.4 per student – and 33 seniors have been adm ...
  • Students Connect with Fiber Artist Tina Brewer
    News • 12/15/2008
    7th grade students are busy designing and creating two quilts -- one to be hung here in The Ellis School, and one to be donated to the new Children's Hospital. All of this is funded in part by an anonymous donor and by a matching grant from the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in partnership with the ...
  • Maya Earnest-Hawken Awarded Marcie WATERMAN Love '56 International Travel Grant
    News • 3/14/2024
    Ellis junior Maya Earnest-Hawken isn’t yet sure where her career, or even her college experience, will take her but she knows one thing for certain: advocacy is important to her, and she plans to focus on it in her future.
  • The Ellis School Announces Next Head of School
    News • 10/9/2023
    The Ellis School Board of Trustees announces Tambi Tyler as the next Head of School, effective July 1, 2024. She will succeed Macon Finley, who joined The Ellis School as Head of School in 2017 and will retire in June 2024.
  • Ellis Recognizes Retiring, Departing Employees in 2022–2023 School Year
    News • 5/30/2023
    Kim Mechling’s classroom is full of the outdoors. Leaves and pinecones adorn a wreath at one end, while an ever-growing rock collection inhabits the other. All were gifts from students, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
  • Visit to Open-Heart Surgery Expands Students’ View of Medical Career Opportunities
    News • 3/16/2023
    ...nysah Roberts and Nora Brown, who are both planning careers in a medical field, real-world learning experiences are everything. So when they found out they could take an anatomy course that included a visit to Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) to view an open-heart surgery, they jumped at the chan ...
  • Explorations and Expansion: An Alumnae Career Panel
    News • 11/17/2022
    When Ellis alumnae returned to their alma mater for Reunion Weekend in October, they made one thing clear: Their Ellis experience has stuck with them. Whether through their academic background, the friendships with peers and relationships with teachers, or extracurricular experiences, alumnae shared ...
  • We Are All "Math People"
    News • 4/20/2022
    Math was not my thing.  I spent my entire middle and high school career declaring, “I am not a math person.” I put in minimal effort and, in turn, received minimal reward. I opted out of taking math my senior year of high school and panicked when I was required to take statistics in ...
  • The Promise of Possibility
    News • 9/3/2021
    If you do not follow women’s soccer then you are probably not familiar with the name Nadia Nadim. But if you are a fan of football (as soccer is called in the rest of the world) then you know that Nadim is an international superstar who is considered the greatest female Afghan football player ...
  • Jenn Moynihan, Head of Middle School
    News • 8/4/2021
    When she moved across the country to start her position as Ellis’ new Middle School Division Head, Jenn Moynihan’s arrival didn’t feel quite that distant. A native of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Ms. Moynihan’s return to the Keystone State came after living in Los Angeles, Califor ...
  • Marsha RUCKER '86, Attorney
    News • 7/26/2021
    As the regional attorney for the Birmingham District of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Marsha RUCKER ’86 manages and litigates cases to further the eradication of unlawful employment discrimination. Marsha began her career with the EEOC as a trial attorney in the Birm ...
  • Jamie Beth COHEN '93, Storyteller
    News • 3/8/2021
    Jamie Beth COHEN '93 is a storyteller, in many ways. From her Young Adult novel WASTED PRETTY to her pieces published in major news outlets, Jamie has mastered the art of the story—and is helping others do the same. She has been featured in storytelling events across Pennsylvania and in New Yo ...
  • Ellis Alumnae Celebrate Reunion 2020
    News • 11/11/2020
    In true Ellis fashion, alumnae from all over the country didn’t let COVID stop them from  gathering virtually on October 8–10 to celebrate Reunion Weekend 2020. Classes ending in 5’s and 0’s celebrated together for tried and true Reunion events like the Alumnae Career Pa ...
  • Tegan Poerio Commits to Boston University for Field Hockey
    News • 11/22/2019
    Tegan Poerio, Class of 2021, has committed to play Division I field hockey at Boston University following her graduation from The Ellis School. 
  • Between the Starting Point and the Finish Line
    News • 10/2/2020
    When you think of health and wellness, you might first think of social and emotional well-being. In our physical education and athletics departments , it is our goal to encourage social and emotional health while also supporting our girls to learn about, and practice, healthy habits and fitness with ...
  • Ellis Alumnae Celebrate Reunion Weekend 2019
    News • 10/23/2019
    Ellis alumnae were welcomed back to campus on October 11–13 for Reunion Weekend 2019 . A record number of alumnae joined the festivities, with classes ending in 4’s and 9’s celebrating their milestone years. From a thought-provoking Alumnae Career Panel that had current students po ...
  • Alumnae Honored at Reunion 2019
    News • 10/17/2019
    Ellis alumnae gathered to recognize and celebrate three outstanding graduates of the School during Reunion Weekend 2019. Sally RIAL Phelps ’58 was honored with the Sara Frazer Ellis Award and Jordan ZAPPALA ’99 and Rebekah HUGHEY ’94 were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
  • The Impact of All the Little Things
    News • 6/6/2019
    As I contemplate a phrase to describe this school year, I am reminded of a political science professor I had in college. One day, attendance was light in his lecture. Very frustrated, he spent a good deal of class that day emphasizing that to succeed in life you need to put in the work every day, sh ...
  • Emma GILMORE Kieran ’96, Nonprofit Consultant
    News • 4/4/2019
    Emma GILMORE Kieran ’96, an Ellis lifer, knows how important it is for women to develop strong, confident voices—especially because she has used her own voice to further the mission of over 100 different nonprofits. Her experience at Ellis, along with her time as an educator, frontline f ...
  • Building Authentic Connections
    News • 11/28/2018
    During my middle and high school years, my family volunteered on a regular basis. This included serving Thanksgiving dinners in shelters and volunteering with organizations whose mission was to support people with physical disabilities. While my brother and I occasionally grumbled (like typical adol ...
  • Modeling Cultural Competency in the Art Studio
    News • 11/13/2018
    A compassionate colleague and mentor, innovative and brilliant teacher, lifelong learner, and dedicated community member who is passionate about using the arts to advocate for racial equity in the Pittsburgh region, Lower School Visual Arts Teacher Sarah Ceurvorst has a creative and fresh approach t ...
  • 4 Myths About Girls’ Schools
    News • 10/2/2018
    At all-girls schools, girls work collaboratively, take risks together, and grow into bold, confident young women who are ready to change the world. They don’t just make friendships that last through high school, they make friendships that last forever. So why are there so many preconceived not ...
  • New Faculty Members at The Ellis School
    News • 8/24/2018
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce new faculty members for the 2018–2019 school year. Please join us in welcoming these accomplished and talented teachers to our community. The School is thrilled to add these passionate intellects, scholars, and artists to our team.
  • New Appointments to the Board of Trustees
    News • 8/17/2018
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of five new trustees to the Board. Effective July 2018, these new appointments will work with Mike Haggerty, Chair of the Board, to guide The Ellis School’s strategic vision for the future.
  • Ellis Students Test da Vinci Surgical Robot
    News • 1/11/2018
    Upper School students from the Introduction to Computer Science course recently visited Allegheny Health Network Forbes Hospital in Monroeville to see the da Vinci Surgical System as a precursor to their upcoming robotics unit. Used by surgeons for minimally invasive surgeries, the da Vinci Surgical ...
  • A Perfect Career: 5 Seniors Achieve 4 for 4
    News • 11/7/2017
    Winning a championship is quite a feat in itself, but winning four consecutive championships in a row is, for most teams, unfathomable. At Ellis, it is a reality for five members of the Class of 2018; Emma Bisello, Corinne Hartman, Lysa Meyer, Angie Scheuermann, and Olivia Simon.
  • Alumnae Return for Reunion 2017
    News • 10/17/2017
    Ellis alumnae were welcomed back to campus on October 6 and 7 for Reunion Weekend 2017 . More than 60 alumnae joined the festivities on Friday and Saturday, with classes ending in 2 and 7 celebrating milestone years.
  • New Appointments to the Board of Trustees
    News • 9/1/2017
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce that the Board of Trustees has named Michael Haggerty as Chair of the Board, and Colleen DAILY Simonds ’95 as Vice Chair of the Board. The board has also appointed two new trustees: Shanan GUINN ’93 and Kimberly G. Roberts. Effective July 2017, the ...
  • Ellis Students Visit Nuclear Power Plant
    News • 5/18/2017
    To supplement their in-depth studies on nuclear power in the Integrated Studies course, Voice &; Vision, grade 9 students visited the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Monaca, PA this spring. In Voice &; Vision, students investigate real-world problems, in this case nuclear power, and consider ...
  • Visually Impaired Author Visits Ellis Students
    News • 4/27/2017
    Children’s literature author, Sally Hobart Alexander, visited grade 3 students at Ellis to supplement their literature and history studies on Helen Keller and Laura Bridgman. Prior to her visit, students read Child of the Silent Night by Edith Fisher Hunter and Helen Keller by Lorena Hickok ...
  • Ellis Faculty Host International Women in STEM
    News • 3/3/2017
    The Ellis School welcomed eight international female STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) professionals in partnership with the Global Pittsburgh International Leaders Program. Global Pittsburgh contacted Ellis to host the cohort due to our robust reputation in the Pittsburgh area and e ...
  • Empowering Students to Explore their Passions
    News • 1/12/2017
    Happy New Year! Despite the freezing temperatures, Middle School students returned from Winter Break with excitement, enthusiasm, and feeling empowered to tackle the term. January and February promise to be busy and exciting months. Students in STEAM and Humanities classes, electives, and clubs have ...
  • FIRST LEGO League Robotics at Ellis
    News • 11/4/2016
    ...ob market. Engaging girls in STEM early and often is essential to create confidence and competence, and close the gender gap in technical careers such robotics. This is why The Ellis School is committed to running fun and engaging extracurricular programs for our students such as FIRST LEGO Leagu ...
  • Just Imagine Revisited
    News • 4/28/2015
    Last October I wrote an article titled, “Just Imagine”, about a playground we have been planning for and dreaming about. Below is the lead paragraph from that article: Just imagine ... a playground that would have spaces for active play and quiet spaces, a playground that would have natu ...
  • Tinker Squads: A pilot program at Ellis
    News • 3/5/2015
    The Learning Innovation Institute at The Ellis School, with a HIVE Grant from The Sprout Fund, partnered with regional connected learning organizations to develop and run Tinker Squads, a pilot program to foster engineering skills in girls ages 10 to 13. Tinker Squads met at schools and community ce ...
  • Class of 2015 Early College News
    News • 12/22/2014
    The college application process is well underway for the 30 members of the Class of 2015! We are pleased to share this early college admission update with you. Just as important as college admission is how prepared our graduates are to succeed. We also have important news about how recent Ellis grad ...
  • 2014 Sara Frazer Ellis Awardee
    News • 10/12/2014
    In honor of her commitment to education, philanthropy, community service, and leadership, The Ellis School is proud to name Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64 as the recipient of the 2014 Sara Frazer Ellis Award.
  • Finishing Strong in the Middle School
    News • 5/12/2014
    The month of May in the Middle School is filled with the excitement of class trips, the challenge of studying for final exams and wrapping up class activities, and the anticipation of closing exercises and summer vacation. ; In the next few weeks, we will honor students in grades 5-8 for their achie ...
  • All You Need is Love and 49 cents
    News • 3/1/2014
    Ellis Alumna Designs 2014 Love Stamp for U.S. Postal Service An illustration by Elizabeth “Q.” EDDY Cassetti ’75 now graces the upper right hand corner of love letters, wedding invitations, and business correspondence across the country. Her design, known as The Cut Paper Heart , i ...
  • Inspiring Women: Career Connections assembly for grades 5 to 12
    News • 1/14/2014
    ... men who have established inspiring and successful careers in fields ranging from law to finance to human services. The speakers were all Ellis parents deeply committed to excellence in education for girls and young women. Organized by Elizabeth Genter, an Ellis Board member, alumna and the mothe ...
  • Three Ellis women nominated for global impact award
    News • 6/25/2013
    Three women from The Ellis School were among 52 female leaders from our region who were nominated for the 2013 "Celebrating Women! Having a Global Impact" award.
  • Fine Arts Festival: Why arts matter at Ellis
    News • 4/16/2013
    by Sara Sturdevant, Chair of the Visual Arts Department When Mary Ann Perry, Chair of the Performing Arts department, and I sat down to brainstorm about the 2013 Fine Arts Festival , taking place this Sunday, April 21 at Ellis, we found ourselves focusing on the way the arts are vital to life and ed ...
  • How Technology Brings Learning to Life
    News • 4/4/2013
    Earlier this week, Ellis welcomed more than 40 grandparents for a lively conversation with Dr. Lisa Abel-Palmieri about the ways our faculty and girls are using technology in new ways at our School.
  • The courage to disagree. The smarts to do it well.
    News • 10/18/2012
    by Robin O. Newham, Director of the Upper School As an educator for the past 37 years, I have come to realize that the most dynamic learning experiences often occur in the most unlikely of circumstances. ; A great example of this assertion is the fallout from the Upper School assembly with Dr. Leona ...
  • MS collaborating with Girls Math and Science Project
    News • 10/16/2012
    Ellis Middle School girls are exploring careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through a new collaboration with T he Girls, Math and Science Partnership (GMSP). ;
  • Community Connection
    News • 1/9/2012
    I’ve always thought that celebrating the dawn of a new year is unique for a school community. While it represents a new beginning, it is also the mid-way point of our academic school year – a time to look forward as well as to celebrate the successes of the past semester. As you know, a ...
  • Ellis Student Honored as Miss Smiling Irish Eyes
    News • 3/2/2009
    For nearly 50 years, the City of Pittsburgh has chosen a Queen, Miss Smiling Irish Eyes, to represent Pittsburgh’s Irish and to serve as St. Patrick’s Day Parade royalty. This year, that honor goes to Ellis senior, Bridget, B. Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is chosen to represent the vast pool of Irish Ame ...
  • Alumnae
    ... ections with fellow graduates across class years, careers, cities, and countries. From Ellis to the farthest corners of the world, the spirit of collaboration has thrived among generations of remarkable Ellis alumnae. Let’s expand these connections and strengthen our alliance, continuing t ...
  • Embracing Life in Seasons
    News • 10/24/2024
    Whether navigating rigorous academics, paving the way for women in engineering, or embarking on the adventure of parenthood, Janessa BENN Dukes ’09 gives herself the space and grace to enjoy life.
  • A Portrait of Ms. Ellis
    News • 10/22/2024
    More than a century after the school’s founding, Sara Frazer Ellis remains a symbol of confidence and strength for Ellis girls from every generation.
  • Six New Members Join The Ellis School's Board of Trustees
    News • 9/9/2024
    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.
  • Two to Be Inducted into Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame
    News • 8/26/2024
    This fall, two alumnae will be inducted into the Ellis Athletic Hall of Fame. Elizabeth (Liz) FAY Deegan ’89 and Sara HANEY Stroud ’04 will be honored during Reunion Weekend in October.
  • Ellis History Helps Second Graders Learn About Themselves
    News • 11/6/2023
    A lot has changed at The Ellis School since its founding in 1916. The school doesn’t sit in its original location. The uniforms have changed over the years. And much of the programming students enjoy today would look like science fiction to Ellis students 107 years ago. But a lot of thingsR ...
  • Alumna Spotlight: Three Questions for Sarah ALTMAN (Bumsted) McSorley '95
    News • 9/29/2023
    Sarah ALTMAN (Bumsted) McSorley '95 has varied and unique connections to Ellis. An alumna of the Class of 1995, she has also held the titles “faculty kid”, “substitute teacher”, and “EPA President”. Currently, she serves on Ellis’ Board of Trustees, chairing ...
  • Eight New Faculty Members Join The Ellis School Across All Divisions
    News • 9/6/2023
    Eight new faculty members are joining the Ellis community in the 2023–2024 school year, each of whom brings a fresh perspective, diverse experiences, and excitement for teaching and learning. They join each division across many fields of study, including World Languages, Chemistry, English, ST ...
  • Nell COX Yates ’02, Visual Arts Educator and Owner of Birdhouse Ceramics
    News • 11/17/2022
    It’s no exaggeration to say that Nell COX Yates ’02 sees art everywhere. A secondary art educator since 2009, Nell has spent the past 17 years working with students of all ages and sharing her love of ceramics and 3D design in a variety of studio settings. From serving as the Visual Arts ...
  • Ellis Appoints Tomar Pierson-BROWN ’97 Board Chair, Welcomes New Trustees for 22-23
    News • 9/21/2022
    After serving on the Ellis Board of Trustees for three years, Tomar Pierson-BROWN ’97 took the lead as Board Chair beginning July 2022.
  • New Staff Members Bring Decades of Experience, Expertise to Ellis
    News • 9/21/2022
    Seven new staff members join the Ellis administration for the 2022–2023 school year, each bringing a wealth of knowledge in their areas of expertise and decades of experience working in independent schools, higher education institutions, and organizations that serve students and other young le ...
  • Honoring Ellis’ 2022 Retirees
    News • 6/1/2022
    The Ellis School will bid farewell to five longtime faculty members—Visual Arts Teacher Belle Moldovan, Upper School History Teacher Rick Malmstrom, Middle and Upper School History Teacher Jeri Simon, Upper School Mathematics Teacher Liza Goldberg, and History Department Chair and Global Initi ...
  • Preparing Real-world Problem Solvers
    News • 12/15/2021
    As a math teacher, I always encouraged my students to use their problem-solving skills. What do I mean by this? Well, I wanted, and still want, my students to use the knowledge that they have to seek solutions, even if that means that they may make errors along the way. The beauty is in learning fro ...
  • Ceil (Leeper) Sturdevant Retires After 40 Years at Ellis
    News • 6/14/2021
    For the past four decades, Ceil (Leeper) Sturdevant’s clay studio has been a safe haven for Ellis students. Tucked in the back corner of the Fine Arts Building with a “Caution: Pyros Within'' sign on the door, her room has been a sacred hideaway for scores of Ellis artists over the years ...
  • Nancy HAYES Kilgore '65, Writer
    News • 6/4/2021
    While at Ellis, Nancy HAYES Kilgore ’65 fell in love with the books assigned to her in English class and realized she wanted to become a novelist. Her dream came true, and today Nancy is preparing to publish her third novel,  Bitter Magic , later this summer. Now, along with being a write ...
  • Colleen DAILY Simonds '95, Interior Designer
    News • 4/6/2021
    An interior designer based in Pittsburgh, Colleen DAILY Simonds ’95 is known for her ability to mix playful patterns and vibrant colors to create beautiful, bold spaces for her clients. A former merchandiser with Gap and J.Crew, Colleen chose to switch career paths, leave New York City, and pu ...
  • Lila BALISTRIERI '18, Student
    News • 3/29/2021
    Lila BALISTRIERI ’18 is exploring her passions surrounding accessibility, public health, and the financial world at the University of Rochester. A Handler Scholar , she is triple majoring in English, Anthropology, and Medical Innovation and is also a research assistant at the university. At th ...
  • Beth HAMMER Genter '77, Financial Planner and Manager
    News • 2/19/2021
    A financial advisor and planner, Beth HAMMER Genter ’77 is the President and founder of Schenley Capital Inc. , a registered investment firm in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. After spending six years working for Merrill Lynch, Beth decided to start her own firm and hasn’t looked back since. Wi ...
  • Introducing Girl Talk, Ellis’ New Virtual Parenting Series
    News • 1/14/2021
    Girl Talk is moving from the written word on our blog to the spoken word with our new, free webinar series, Girl Talk: Conversations for Parents . A parent's guide to raising girls who become bold, vibrant changemakers, Girl Talk brings families, educators, and experts to explore issues and ideas re ...
  • Nicole F. VÉLEZ, M.D. ’00, Dermatologist
    News • 9/3/2020
    Dr. Nicole F. VÉLEZ ’00 is a dermatologist who specializes in skin cancer, particularly Mohs micrographic surgery. Nicole graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude from Carnegie Mellon University and with honors from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, before completing a combin ...
  • Introducing Ellis After Fifth Ave. and Coffee Connections
    News • 8/27/2020
    With all of the change that’s happened this year, the Alumnae Office has had to adapt our planning for the rest of 2020. Until further notice, we are unable to hold events in person. While we  will greatly miss being able to connect with each and every one of you face to face, we have a l ...
  • Campus News
    News • 8/10/2020
    SENIORS PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT COMMEMORATING THE WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT Who was the first woman in your family to vote? Ellis grade 12 students set out to find the answer during their participation in the national Women Leading the Way project, a community storytelling initiative that chall ...
  • Visiting Changemakers on Campus
    News • 8/10/2020
    Peek into a classroom in the Lower School and you may see an architect speaking about sustainability and environmental efficiency. Visit the Middle School on a different occasion and you may run into a human rights activist in one room and a local councilperson in the next. Make your way to the audi ...
  • Scene
    News • 8/10/2020
    From visiting alumnae across the country to celebrating Reunion Weekend, the Development and Alumnae Office had a busy year. Alumnae laughed and learned together as they made ramen noodles at an event in San Francisco. Past and present trustees gathered in the renovated flexible library space to hea ...
  • Abigail BAYLES Wiebenson ’59, Leadership Coach
    News • 8/30/2019
    A true lifelong learner, Abigail BAYLES Wiebenson ’59 has spent her career wearing various hats in the field of education. After 19 years as Head of the Lowell School in Washington, D.C., Abigail switched gears and became a leadership coach, working with scores of school administrators locally ...
  • Brooke GENERETT ’99, Social Worker
    News • 8/30/2019
    Brooke GENERETT ’99 is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over fifteen years of experience working with children, adolescents and their families. In 2012, Brooke started her own counseling practice, Generett Counseling Services, LLC, with the primary goal of assisting individuals in develo ...
  • New Appointments to the Board of Trustees
    News • 8/5/2019
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce the appointment of seven new trustees to the Board. Effective July 2019, these new appointments will work with Board Chair, Mike Haggerty, to guide The Ellis School’s strategic vision for the future.
  • Alice CURTIS Cline ’02, Midwife
    News • 11/28/2018
    As a certified nurse midwife, Alice CURTIS Cline ’02 is a steadfast advocate and champion for women and their families during pregnancy and birth. Her commitment to helping—and empowering—others, particularly women, began at The Ellis School and evolved during her time studying nur ...
  • Ginnae HARLEY '88, Public Education
    News • 10/4/2018
    A self-starter who has followed her passions throughout her decades of experience, Ginnae HARLEY '88 has worked in government service, program development, corporate product and brand development, and public education throughout her career. Through the many twists and turns, Ginnae discovered that h ...
  • Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe, Ph.D. '58, Humanitarian
    News • 10/4/2018
    Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe, Ph.D. ’58 has had a long and illustrious career in international affairs and sustainable development. A former program director for Oxfam America, Susan served in program management positions with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Develo ...
  • Ellis to Host Year of Celebrated Speakers
    News • 9/24/2018
    The Ellis School has a diverse, accomplished, and intellectually stimulating group of women lined up to speak on campus throughout the 2018–2019 school year. These dynamic changemakers will serve as powerful role models to students, expose them to real-world experiences, and broaden their pers ...
  • Ashley Priore, Class of 2018
    News • 5/28/2018
    Ashley Priore, Class of 2018, joined the Ellis community as an Upper School student in grade 9 and has since shared her love of chess with dozens of Ellis girls through self-taught chess classes and the formation of The Queen’s Gambit Chess Institute. Ashley is also co-president of Student Div ...
  • Kassie Wadsworth
    News • 2/13/2018
    Science Teacher  Science Teacher Kassie Wadsworth has brought inquiry and discovery-based learning to Ellis students in the Upper School for the last four years.
  • Ellis Student Studying in Germany
    News • 12/14/2017
    Ellis students typically begin their high school career with freshmen orientation, athletics practices, play rehearsals, and the homecoming dance. But for Annika Ramani, her high school experience didn’t begin in the Upper School but in the southwestern corner of Germany. A member of the Class ...
  • Jennifer L. CARTER, Psy.D. ’92, Psychologist
    News • 10/2/2017
    Jennifer L. CARTER, Psy.D. ’92 is a licensed clinical psychologist who knew from the time she was in the fourth grade that she wanted to work with people. With plans to become a psychiatrist, Jennifer majored in pre-med at The College of William &; Mary before ultimately realizing that psychia ...
  • Ellis Faculty Member Wins Art Educator Award
    News • 9/27/2017
    Lower School Visual Arts Teacher Sarah Ceurvorst has been recognized for her stellar work in the studio with the 2017 Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA) Early Career Art Educator Award. Distributed annually to increase awareness of quality teachers and programs within the state, the PAEA ...
  • Kassie Wadsworth, Science Teacher
    News • 9/21/2017
    Science Teacher Kassie Wadsworth has brought inquiry and discovery-based learning to Ellis students in the Upper School for the last four years. A University of Pittsburgh alumna who originally planned to become a research scientist, Mrs. Wadsworth integrates her extensive experience from Pitt’ ...
  • Miranda Jones, Class of 2017
    News • 6/2/2017
    Ellis senior Miranda Jones has spent her entire academic career walking the breezeway and passing Arbuthnot as she made her way from the Lower School playground to the Middle School hallways, and finally to the senior lounge in the Upper School. An Ellis lifer, Miranda has grown up at Ellis (quite l ...
  • Colleen DAILY Simonds '95, Interior Designer
    News • 4/21/2017
    Colleen DAILY Simonds is a Class of 1995 alumna and Ellis Board of Trustees member who recently moved back to the Steel City after thirteen years in the Big Apple. Following graduation from Duke University, Colleen pursued a career in merchandising which led her to positions at retail powerhouses, G ...
  • Sage LINCOLN '12, Student
    News • 4/18/2017
    Whether she’s fighting for fossil fuel divestment, completing community-based research for the Honor’s College, or overhauling housing recycling programs, Sage LINCOLN ‘12 is a changemaker and trailblazer at the University of Pittsburgh. A fifth-year student triple-majoring in Ecol ...
  • Ellis Visited by Female Leaders from Uber
    News • 4/12/2017
    There was a new and unexpected addition to the afternoon car line at The Ellis School as a Self-Driving Uber pulled in and parked itself in the front visitor space. But the Uber wasn’t here to return students from a field trip or to pick them up for an away game, it was here to drop off three ...
  • Ellis Grade 2 Students Celebrate Women Throughout History
    News • 4/4/2017
    In honor of Women’s History Month, the students in grade 2 performed their 2017 class play on influential women throughout history. The Journey of Empowerment followed the triumphs and trials of historic females who paved the way for women’s rights and acceptance over the last century. S ...
  • Ellis Students to Participate in Hour of Code
    News • 12/5/2016
    ...begins well before entering the job market. Engaging girls in STEM early and often is essential to create confidence and competence, and close the gender gap in technical careers. This is why students at The Ellis School are joining in on one of the largest learning events in history: Hour of Cod ...
  • Ellis School to Mark Its 100th Anniversary with Gala
    News • 9/12/2016
    Pittsburgh, PA, September 12, 2016 – Over 450 alumnae, students, family members, community leaders, administrators and friends of The Ellis School will come together on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall to mark Ellis’s first 100-years of educating and s ...
  • Creating a Culture of Innovation
    News • 3/1/2014
    The Ellis School has embarked on a journey to re-envision our academic program to best inspire and empower girls to be both critical and creative thinkers. For innovation to truly take hold across the school, it must be led from the bottom, the top, and the middle. According to Pat Bassett, past pre ...
  • Ellis students win computing/IT awards
    News • 1/21/2014
    Three Ellis students have been recognized by the National Center for Women &; Information Technology (NCWIT) Awards Committee, which honors young women for demonstrated, outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology and computing. Ellis junior Mackenzie Ferris and senior Campbell Konra ...
  • Happy New Year from the Middle School!
    News • 1/13/2014
    Happy New Year! ; Despite the freezing temperatures, January promises to be a busy and exciting month for the Middle School with fourth grade visits, FIRST Lego League and Future City competitions, two bake sales, a ski trip, assemblies and Middle School Olympiad on the calendar. ; I am privileged t ...
  • Ellis student to run STEM careers camp for girls
    News • 4/5/2013
    ...Ellis that she's now organized a summer camp to ;introduce local girls to careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Chelsea's week-long camp, called Girls Bridging Community, will serve lower-income girls, ages 8 to 10, and will take place at Ellis July 8-12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p ...
  • Schools
    Schools Schools Pre-k through grade 4 Grades 5 through 8 Grades 9 through 12 Lower School Middle School Upper School Meet Ellis Students Meet Alessia Meet Roxie Meet Trinity Meet Sofia Meet Rowan Meet Kendall Meet Scarlett 1 / 7 Meet Ellis Families Carrie Sparks and Christopher Palmer, Class of 202 ...
  • Maddie Gallagher ’12 Takes Philanthropic Angle in Banking Career
    News • 4/7/2025
    Maddie Gallagher ’12 has a career in banking, but her heart is in philanthropy. As a Product Manager for U.S. Bank, she specializes in banking strategies for special segments, overseeing marketing initiatives for products and services for groups including students and military families.
  • Leading with Purpose
    News • 10/22/2024
    Fueled by her lifelong passion for education and the empowerment of women, Tambi Tyler embraces her role as Ellis’ newly appointed Head of School.
  • Alumnae News
    News • 10/24/2024
    ... tle IX and the impact sports have played in their careers and lives. Alumnae Book Club Our Alumnae Book Club, founded by Kristen WALTER Sobel ’05 and Cally MYHRUM ’06, met in November, January, March, and May. This school year, we read The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria ...
  • Ellis Senior Projects Explore Wellness, STEM Education, Sports, Art and More
    News • 5/23/2024
    Ellis seniors Sara Woodside and Sarina Pretter loved being in Amye Sledge’s Pre-K class. It’s where they learned to read, and where they acted out countless scenes of adventure from their imaginations.
  • Alumnae News
    News • 10/4/2023
    Reunion Weekend Ellis welcomed alumnae back to campus for the 2022 Reunion Weekend, held October 7-9, 2022. The Reunion included opportunities to interact with current students, campus tours, an insightful Alumnae Career Panel, and a heartwarming luncheon. Members of the Class of 1972 joined us on F ...
  • Ellis Community Excited to Welcome New Faculty
    News • 9/22/2022
    Ellis students greeted new teachers in the classroom this fall, as ten new faces joined the faculty across the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. Each brings excitement and innovation to their classrooms, labs, stages, and athletic spaces, and they look forward to guiding and mentoring students throu ...
  • Banishing Judgment to Inspire Success
    News • 4/20/2022
    AP Calculus BC is the capstone mathematics course at Ellis—the highest a student can climb within the math world before leaving the Upper School. The class represents a culmination of all the mathematical knowledge students have developed over the course of their academic career thus far, and ...
  • Scene
    News • 7/28/2021
    Alumnae gatherings looked different this year, but that didn’t derail Ellis graduates from finding ways to catch up and connect. In place of meet-ups across the country and on campus, the Alumnae Engagement Office went virtual for beloved events like Reunion Weekend and introduced a new webina ...
  • Welcoming New Faculty, Staff, & Coaches for the 2021-22 Year
    News • 7/26/2021
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce new faculty members for the 2021–2022 school year. The School is thrilled to add these passionate intellectuals, scholars, and leaders to our team. Please join us in welcoming these talented educators, coaches, and staff members to our community.
  • Lauren DRAKE '16, PhD Candidate
    News • 7/26/2021
    After completing her undergraduate degree in bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania in 2020, Lauren DRAKE ’16 chose to continue her studies and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University. During her time at Penn, Lauren worked as an undergraduate resea ...
  • Amy WOLF ’96, Asst. Director Digital Media & Marketing
    News • 7/26/2021
    As the Assistant Director for Digital Media and Marketing at The New York Community Trust , Amy WOLF ’96 thrives on finding creative and powerful ways to share the impact of New York City’s community foundation--one of the top funders of local nonprofits. Since joining The Trust in 2008, ...
  • Lauren INDOVINA '01, Director
    News • 7/26/2021
    Lauren INDOVINA ’01 is an Emmy Award-winning Director and Visual Artist based in Los Angeles. She is best known for her ethereal visuals and multifaceted approach to art, design, film techniques, and branding. With a background in fine art and fifteen years in advertising, she has created orig ...
  • Kristen HAUSER '10, Automotive Engineer
    News • 9/3/2020
    After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, Kristen HAUSER ’10 relocated to southeast Michigan to join the Ford Motor Company College Graduate Program. Throughout the program, she completed rotations in the areas of s ...
  • Michelle GIRTS '70, Environmental Scientist
    News • 9/2/2020
    A dedicated environmental scientist who has worked in both corporate and research settings, Michelle GIRTS ’70 has been building successful businesses around technology and talent for 35 years. Prior to her retirement, Michelle worked for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and the Portl ...
  • Brianne Kelly, Middle School Physical Education Teacher
    News • 11/11/2019
    They say you have to see it to be it, and that’s exactly what Brianne Kelly, new Middle School Physical Education Teacher, is doing for Ellis girls. A former Division I athlete, Ms. Kelly is modeling to her students how teamwork and perseverance can take you places both on the court and off. P ...
  • Kitty COOK ’89, Vice President of Strategic Insight
    News • 9/19/2019
    As Vice President of Strategic Insight at a full-service market research firm, Kitty COOK ’89 designs, manages, and executes custom research projects for a variety of clients and major brands. From working on Former President Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign to teaming up with t ...
  • Indea HERNDON ’04, Engagement and Inclusion Consultant
    News • 8/30/2019
    As an Engagement and Inclusion Consultant at the UPMC Center for Engagement and Inclusion, Indea HERNDON ’04 aims to ensure that diversity, inclusion, respect, and cultural awareness are a core part of the UPMC experience. Her unyielding commitment to culture, community, and social change led ...
  • Hallie BENNETT ’09, DPT, Traveling Physical Therapist
    News • 8/30/2019
    Whether she’s practicing in Pittsburgh or Hawaii, Dr. Hallie BENNET ’09 can be found motivating and inspiring people across the country as a traveling physical therapist. A graduate of Ithaca College's Physical Therapy Doctorate program, Hallie moves to a new city every three to six ...
  • Paying It Forward By Giving Back
    News • 7/4/2019
    To the thousands of girls who have graduated from The Ellis School, Ellis is so much more than a school. It is a place where lifelong friendships are created, lives are changed,and futures are formed. Ellis’ large, but quietly nestled away, East Liberty campus is where alumnae met their future ...
  • Exercising Voice & Choice in Senior Projects
    News • 6/14/2019
    There was an overwhelming theme to the Class of 2019’s senior projects; a theme that unbeknownst to the seniors, connected all of their disparate ideas and initiatives, and underlied their core commonality. The theme? Using the power of their own voice to affect positive change in their commun ...
  • Athletics Program Promotes Collaboration and Confidence
    News • 6/6/2019
    Whether they were cheering each other on in a swimming relay or playing doubles on the tennis court, Ellis student-athletes practiced lessons they learned in the classroom—like collaboration, confidence, and resilience—every time they pulled on the Ellis uniform this year. Teamwork was a ...
  • Susan SLATER Ellenberg ’83, Santa Clara County Supervisor
    News • 4/5/2019
    When Susan SLATER Ellenberg ’83 feels that something is unjust, she speaks up. As a current member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, Susan advocates for everything from affordable housing to environmental conservation, and has even spoken publicly—and inspiringly—abou ...
  • Dara HALL Mendez, Ph.D. ’98, Epidemiologist
    News • 10/8/2018
    An Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, Dara HALL Mendez, Ph.D ’98 is a social and perinatal epidemiologist, researcher, and advocate for women’s, maternal, and infant health. With a focus on approaches to achieve health equity, Dara explores the complex i ...
  • Katerina ISTOMIN '03, Musician & Counselor
    News • 10/4/2018
    A professional violist who has played with orchestras all over the world, Katerina ISTOMIN '03 is in the midst of shifting her career path from music to psychology as she pursues her Doctorate of Counseling Psychology at Carlow University. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Katerina has worked as a ...
  • Claire RICHARDS ’12, Ph.D. Student
    News • 7/20/2018
    After studying abroad in Paris as an undergraduate student at Cornell University, Claire RICHARDS ’12 couldn’t deny the charm of the City of Lights and chose to move to Paris to complete her Masters degree at École Nationale Supérieure de la Création - Les Ateliers (ENSCI) ...
  • Jordan ZAPPALA ’99, Stay-At-Home Mom
    News • 4/10/2018
    A Class of 1999 alumna, Jordan ZAPPALA spent her high school years in the Ellis Upper School before graduating from Notre Dame University and receiving her master’s in print journalism from Boston University in 2009. As she entered the workforce, digital content creation was taking off and tra ...
  • Sara Sturdevant, Performing Arts Department Chair
    News • 4/1/2018
    ... for the arts, and in turn, sparked their creative careers and endeavors after commencement. A stalwart supporter of the performing arts, Ms. Sturdevant has directed, choreographed, staged, and produced hundreds of Ellis productions and performances over the last 23 years. Her commitment to her c ...
  • Ashley Dotson
    News • 2/13/2018
    Dean of Students  As Dean of Students at Ellis, Ashley Dotson has her finger on the pulse of student happenings in the Upper School.
  • Sarah Ceurvorst
    News • 2/13/2018
    Lower School Art Teacher  Lower School Art Teacher, Sarah Ceurvorst, teaches Ellis’ youngest students the power of art, creativity, and compassion in her studio.
  • Ramita RAVI ’13, Dancer
    News • 11/28/2017
    Ramita RAVI ’13 lived the Ellis motto, Esse Quam Videri , full tilt when she took a chance and auditioned for the FOX competition show, So You Think You Can Dance, earlier this year. Her hard work, perseverance, and talent paid off as she was awarded a spot on the show and subsequently won the ...
  • Lucy CRELLI ’13, Artist
    News • 11/2/2017
    Lucy CRELLI ’13 is a recent graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design who put her Apparel Design degree to the ultimate test when she presented her thesis collection at New York Fashion Week  (NYFW) in September. Committed to creating garments that spark a conversation and shape a nar ...
  • Joyce Fu, International Business Development
    News • 10/11/2017
    Joyce Fu has spent her post-collegiate career living and breathing the world of professional sports. A dedicated young athlete who excelled on the field and in the pool, Joyce’s path into the fast-paced world of multi-million dollar contracts, collective bargaining agreements, and front page h ...
  • Marsha BROWN, Ph.D. ’97, Psychologist
    News • 10/5/2017
    Marsha BROWN, Ph.D. ’97 is a licensed psychologist with specializations in forensic and clinical psychology in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. An avid reader of true crime novels since she was nine years old, Marsha’s interest in human behavior and how it is related to crime began young and gr ...
  • Marina LORENZINI ’12, International Affairs
    News • 10/4/2017
    After graduating from Ellis, Marina LORENZINI ’12 carried her passions and her suitcases across the Atlantic to attend college in Lugano, Switzerland. Marina was inspired by Ellis’ art history programming and global focus so much that she chose to study Modern and Contemporary Visual Art ...
  • Julie STRICKLAND-Gilliard ’02, Global Development
    News • 10/3/2017
    A dedicated change agent in the city of Pittsburgh, Julie STRICKLAND-Gilliard ’02 is a community program manager at Global Links , a medical relief and development organization committed to supporting health initiatives and environmental stewardship in Pittsburgh and within the healthcare syst ...
  • Ann CANCILLA Gaudino, Ed.D. ’85, Professor
    News • 9/14/2017
    An Ellis lifer, Ann CANCILLA Gaudino, Ed.D. ’85 is the true definition of a lifelong learner. After graduation, Ann received her doctorate degree in Education Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, a Specialist degree in Education Administration from Wayne State U ...
  • Bonnie WEST ’09, Artist
    News • 9/11/2017
    Bonnie WEST ’09 lives her life in technicolor. A dedicated painter and self-proclaimed life artist, Bonnie studied studio art, art history, and museum studies at Chatham University, where she was part of the last all-girls cohort in the school’s history. Armed with a vision and a paintbr ...
  • Jo LANG Kim, Ph.D. ’90, Perinatal Health Director
    News • 9/7/2017
    Dr. Jo LANG Kim ’90 has been a champion, advocate, and an ally for pregnant and postpartum women’s mental health for nearly 15 years. Determined to destigmatize mood disorders and prevent women from suffering in silence, Jo leads the nation’s only professionally-staffed 24/7 crisis ...
  • Class of 1966 Connects with Ellis Pen Pals
    News • 7/13/2017
    The Class of 1966 graduated during a particularly tumultuous time in American history. A burgeoning Civil Rights Movement and rapidly changing gender roles affected politics as well as popular culture. The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” went to the top of the music charts; New York City tr ...
  • Reflections
    News • 10/21/2016
    As I write my Ellis story, I am starting my 36th and final year more than a century after Miss Ellis founded The Ellis School in 1916. It seems like yesterday that I received a call from The Ellis School to schedule an interview in the spring of 1981.  I had applied just one week prior, because ...
  • A Tale of Two Friends
    News • 12/10/2015
    Ewi (Hélène Marie) MONTGOMERY Shafran ’85 remembers it well—the moment of clarity, the moment that changed everything. But if truth be told, it didn’t start off as a great day.
  • A Girls' School of the Future
    News • 5/31/2013
    by Norma Greco, Ph.D., Academic Dean Ellis students in the second grade build a scale model of a modern metropolitan community and then work collaboratively to create virtual reality images of buildings using a 360-degree turntable, camera, and tripod. ; In this hands-on project with a real-world co ...
  • Ellis Welcomes New Members to Board
    News • 9/2/2011
    This summer Ellis welcomed five new members to its Board of Directors, bringing expertise in areas which reinforce our emphasis on community partnerships and innovative education.
  • Our People
    ... for the arts, and in turn, sparked their creative careers and endeavors after commencement. A stalwart supporter of the performing arts, Ms. Sturdevant has directed, choreographed, staged, and produced hundreds of Ellis productions and performances over the last 23 years. Her commitment to her c ...
  • Academics
    ... for the arts, and in turn, sparked their creative careers and endeavors after commencement. A stalwart supporter of the performing arts, Ms. Sturdevant has directed, choreographed, staged, and produced hundreds of Ellis productions and performances over the last 23 years. Her commitment to her c ...
  • Theater Arts
    Life at Ellis Theater Arts The Ellis School's Theater Arts program inspires girls to realize their authentic voice through the art of performance. Whether taking center stage or working behind-the-scenes, all of our theater arts experiences are offered in an environment where students discover ...
  • Fostering Bold Change: Cally MYHRUM ’06 Seeks to Fill a Gap in the Insurance Industry
    News • 2/11/2025
    After spending much of her career in management consulting and human-centered design strategy in large IT enterprises, Cally MYHRUM ’06 didn’t have working in the insurance industry on her radar.
  • Future Vision: Kjerstin Pugh ’03 on Peacebuilding, Art, and Ellis
    News • 11/21/2024
    Peacebuilding can feel like a big, complicated system—and sometimes it is—but Kjerstin Pugh ’03 knows that often it starts with bringing people together and making space.
  • Ellis Welcomes New Faculty and Staff for the 2024-2025 Academic Year
    News • 9/9/2024
    The Ellis School is pleased to welcome new faculty and staff members this fall! These individuals bring diverse experiences and perspectives to their roles, as well as a wealth of knowledge in their respective areas, and are excited to join the Ellis community.
  • One Year After Ellis: Esty HENTELEFF ’23
    News • 5/23/2024
    ... ’s considering landscape design among other careers. Her Ellis experience prepared her well for the demanding study schedule of her freshman year, and also gave her the confidence to think about a nontraditional path through her next few years of education. With her first year of college i ...
  • Heather BOSSERT Cunningham, Ph.D. ’89 Helps Teachers Focus on Cultural, Racial Awareness in the Classroom
    News • 3/14/2024
    From an early career experience as an English as a Second Language teacher, Heather BOSSERT Cunningham ’89, Ph.D. knew that education would be the focus of her professional work—and, more importantly, that it was her passion.
  • Passion for Art a “Golden Thread” Through Beth HORN ’95’s Tech Industry Career
    News • 1/22/2024
    Beth HORN ’95’s career is as unique as her interests, perfectly threading her passion for music and the performing arts into roles where her sharp business mind and eye for innovative brand marketing shine. Working across an industry that’s known for rapid change, she’s seen ...
  • Making Every Step Count
    News • 9/28/2023
    Lucy FATO ’84 recognizes every choice she has made—and similarly, every choice she might make in the future—as opportunities. She has embraced each experience and, in doing so, created her own building blocks for a career that has taken her to a global organization and opened oppor ...
  • Paying It Forward
    News • 9/28/2023
    Jessica RUFFIN '00 wasn’t always sure where her career would take her, but she was sure of one thing: she wanted to help people.
  • Amanda HOLLAND-MINKLEY, Ph.D. '91 Echoes Ellis Experience in Her Higher-Ed Classroom
    News • 3/16/2023
    From her days as an Ellis student who loved problem solving in math class to her current work as a college professor, Amanda HOLLAND-MINKLEY ’91 has been enthralled by the experience of learning.
  • Sara NESS '09 and Her Revolution of Authenticity
    News • 1/27/2023
    When Sara NESS ’09 graduated from Ellis and began her freshman year at the University of Texas, she quickly learned a lesson many people encounter at that time in their lives: living with people is hard, especially in communal settings like college residence halls. But where most might see a h ...
  • Class of 2022 Spotlight
    News • 9/19/2022
    The Class of 2022 is made up of 35 students who have navigated their time at Ellis with resilience and grace. They have enriched the School’s theater productions, athletic teams, academic classrooms, art studios, and DEI efforts with their positive spirit, rising to face challenges with empath ...
  • Remembering Judy COHEN Callomon ’54
    News • 11/10/2021
    Though Judy Callomon (then known as Judith Cohen) didn’t officially join The Ellis School until her eighth grade year in 1949, no one has ever been more worthy of an honorary “Ellis Lifer” title. Her connection to the School spanned almost 70 years, during which she wore many hats: ...
  • Welcoming World-Renowned Speakers
    News • 7/6/2019
    The Ellis School is committed to providing faculty with the leading research on how girls learn, partnering with parents around supporting girls throughout their development,and ensuring that students are exposed to an array of industries and topics that will impact their futures. This year, Ellis h ...
  • Jaime LEVINE ’92, Book Editor
    News • 1/4/2019
    Books have been a constant companion for Jaime LEVINE ’92 throughout her life. An Ellis student from kindergarten to grade 12, Jaime’s love of reading was ignited during her time at Ellis—but it wasn’t the classics assigned in English class that piqued her interest. It was th ...
  • Class of 2018 Appreciation
    News • 6/11/2018
    The below speech was given by Senior Class President Noa REITER '18 at the Commencement Ceremony on June 7, 2018. Almost a month ago to the day, I found myself standing in a neatly trimmed garden, tearing up a piece of whole grain bread to feed five wildly clucking chickens. Classmates of mine did t ...
  • Ciera Young
    News • 2/13/2018
    Director of Equity and Inclusion  Director of Equity and Inclusion Ciera Young is a leader, mentor, and ally to students at Ellis as she promotes a message of inclusion, tolerance, and acceptance across all three divisions.
  • Book Recommendations for Ellis Girls
    News • 11/1/2017
    Reading for pleasure is proven to have a positive impact on girls’ lives. A 2014 survey of just over 1,000 children by Scholastic , the children’s book publisher, found that children who are read aloud to at home are more likely to read on their own as they grow up. At a young age, readi ...
  • Jamie Beth COHEN Schindler ’93, Writer
    News • 10/16/2017
    A storyteller who has had her byline in The Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, and Teen Vogue, Jamie Beth COHEN Schindler ’93 is an Ellis lifer, political activist, and writer in the process of penning her first Young Adult novel, WASTED PRETTY. This past year, Jamie co-founded the Lancaster ...
  • Lauren BYRNE Connelly ’02, Economic Development
    News • 10/6/2017
    Lauren BYRNE Connelly ’02 has dedicated her professional life to building better communities in her hometown of Pittsburgh. As the Business Development Manager at Allegheny County Department of Economic Development , Lauren oversees grant programs, community development programs, and works wit ...
  • Six Women, Three Generations, 70 Years
    News • 10/21/2016
    Although the address of the school may have changed in the 70 years since Nancy and Barbara GILLIES first came to Ellis in 1947, followed by cousin Molly RUST Montgomery in 1952, the heart of Ellis has not.
  • Ellis Welcomes New Faculty and Staff
    News • 9/1/2016
    The Ellis School is pleased to announce that the following new faculty and staff are in place to begin the 2016-17 academic year. “We look forward to a great year with these talented individuals added to our vibrant, high-quality roster of faculty and staff,” Head of School, Robin Newham ...
  • Active Classroom improves girls physics outcomes
    News • 9/3/2014
    Schools working to improve learning outcomes for girls in science may want to stop lecturing and start using active learning models, according to preliminary findings of a research project of the Learning Innovation Institute at The Ellis School, an all-girls school in Pittsburgh. The Ellis School f ...
  • A Plan for The Future
    News • 10/5/2013
    A little more than two years ago, The Ellis School embarked on an effort to create a compelling and contemporary vision for girls’ and women’s education that would build on the School’s 100-year tradition of excellence. This vision will propel our School toward our Centennial in 20 ...
  • College bound: college admissions for young women
    News • 5/15/2013
    by Joanna Schultz, Director of College Counseling During my 17 years as college counselor at Ellis, much has changed in the college scene around us. ; These changes have made the process more difficult in many ways, particularly for excellent female students. ; Back in 1996, Harvard, Yale, and Princ ...
  • Ellis Pillars Propel Lauren SCHULTZ ’00 into McDonald’s Leadership
    News • 11/6/2023
    Lauren SCHULTZ ’00 didn’t think she’d ever work at McDonald’s, let alone make a career of it. But that was before she experienced the energy and values of the brand, and the scale and scope of the international corporation. She has now been with the company for 14 years, firs ...
  • One Year After Ellis: Katie KOEPPL ’22
    News • 5/30/2023
    Katie KOEPPL ’22 graduated from Ellis last spring ready to branch out and experience college life. Feeling excited and a bit nervous, she headed into her freshman year at The College of Wooster, a liberal arts college in Ohio. With her first year of college under her belt and studies in French ...
  • Ellis Girls About Town
    News • 7/10/2019
    An Ellis student’s classroom extends well beyond the walls of the School and into the  broader community. Whether learning about art, history, science, Ellis girls are out in the Pittsburgh region making real-world connections to bolster their on-campus studies. These experiences grow gir ...
  • Raising Her Voice
    News • 7/7/2019
    The Ellis Auditorium is never really empty. Even when its seats are vacant and the stage is bare, the air tingles with excited, eager energy, left over by the generations of girls who have made their musical debuts, presented speeches in front of peers, and shared big, imaginative ideas with ...
  • Tara and Patrick McElfresh, Class of 2024 Parents
    News • 4/13/2018
    When Tara and Patrick McElfresh sought out a new school for their daughter, Liadan, Class of 2024, they wanted a place that would not only challenge her academically, but personally as she moved from elementary to middle school. A place that would encourage her to be an independent thinker, confiden ...
  • Global Impact
    News • 9/22/2015
    Ellis women are known for their tenacity, intellectual capacity, and ability to inspire others to act. Ellis Magazine recently spoke with three alumnae who are making extraordinary contributions internationally. Here are their stories.
  • Student Life
    ... tems. Upper School Art Club Books and Baked Goods Careers in STEM  Competitive Programming Ellisian Fields (Yearbook)  Ellisian Journal Environmental Food Science For the Record Guild Mental Health Advocacy MUN Pre-Law  Pre-Med/Healthcare  SAAB  Science Olympiad Student ...
  • News
    About News News about The Ellis School includes timely announcements about events, initiatives, and accomplishments happening across campus. 2025 Headlines Exploring Evolution with EvolvingSTEM 4/8/2025 A University of Pittsburgh program is making it possible for Ellis students to engage directly i ...
  • Our Graduates
    Why All-Girls Our Graduates Graduates of The Ellis School are extraordinarily accomplished women who, at Ellis, began discovering who they are and what they love. No matter what their varied interests or backgrounds, they share a commitment to integrity, respect for others, and for one another. Our ...
  • Making Their Mark
    News • 8/10/2020
    Game changers, advocates, activists, leaders—these are just a handful of the words you could use to describe the bold, creative, and gutsy women we’ve been lucky enough to profile in the following pages. And while these five women represent only a small fraction of the Ellis alumnae netw ...
  • Upper School Curriculum
    ... fully prepared for the challenges of college and careers. As students progress through the Upper School, their intellectual and social growth is fostered through exposure to a diverse curriculum, elective offerings in both the visual and performing arts, a highly successful athletic program, an ...
  • Reunion
    Alumnae Reunion Ellis Reunion Weekend: October 4 & 5, 2024 Come experience the renewed energy on our campus during this year’s Reunion Weekend events! All alumnae are welcome with a special emphasis on celebrating milestone years ending in 4 and 9. Join us back on campus to reconnect with ...
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992   |   admissions@theellisschool.org
6425 FIFTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
412.661.5992
admissions@theellisschool.org