While Ellis alumnae choose many paths after they leave our Fifth Avenue campus, they continue to share many common ties: a fierce commitment to their careers, a lifelong love of learning, and a desire to uplift and support fellow women. With honed intellects and broad experience, our alumnae use their power to create space for themselves and others—and now they’re widening their reach in our new webinar series, “Ellis After Fifth Ave.”

Designed to celebrate and highlight the diverse experiences and expertise of our alumnae community, “Ellis After Fifth Ave.” will have rotating alumna hosts discussing topics ranging from baking to negotiating. These masterclass sessions will offer a chance for those within the Ellis community and those outside of it to learn new skills and find common ground with each other in a welcoming, inclusive space.

At Ellis, we know it’s not just our students who are lifelong learners—it’s our community members, too. The Ellis After Fifth Ave. series is open to all adults, not just our graduates. So invite your friends, share on your social feeds, and save the date!

Have you been working toward a promotion and want a crash course in how to negotiate for a higher salary? Or perhaps you’re hoping to buy a house in the near future and want to boost your counter offer confidence. Join Ellis alumna Divya Krishnan, Class of 2010, for a free virtual webinar to learn how you can strengthen and sharpen your negotiation skills.

A corporate consultant by day, Divya also runs the Ask Smart Program and leads negotiation workshops for people of all ages and skill sets. She’s delivered them at major companies like IBM and the ACLU, at schools and summer camps, and is now sharing her knowledge virtually on September 17. Register now to learn the tools, techniques, and vocabulary you need to reach your goals!

Fall Baking Class 

Cinnamon rolls. They’re sweet, soft, and send a wonderful scent through the air when they’re baking. But, sometimes that yeasted dough doesn’t work out right. Maybe they didn’t rise, maybe they’re too tough once they’ve cooled, or maybe they just don’t taste good. What if you could have a professional pastry chef walk you through how to make the perfect cinnamon roll, just in time for fall? 

Join Ellis alumna Ginger Fisher Baldwin, Class of 2002, for a free virtual baking class on October 22 to learn how to make bakery-worthy cinnamon rolls at home. The head baker and co-founder of Ciao, Gloria in Brooklyn, New York, Ginger is an accomplished pastry chef and is inviting you to join her in the kitchen for one night only. The recipe and ingredient list will be sent to attendees ahead of time so you can bake alongside Ginger. Get your apron ready and register today!   

The Science (Fiction) of Storytelling 

Calling all writers, playwrights, and sci-fi lovers! Whether you’re working on your first novel, fighting writer’s block, or simply want to start a new hobby, you’re invited to join Andrea Hairston, novelist and playwright, for a free webinar all about the power of creative writing and diverse storytelling on November 19. A 1970 graduate of The Ellis School, Andrea has published three thrilling sci-fi novels (with her fourth, Master of Poisons, out in Fall 2020) and has received numerous awards and art grants for her creative, imaginative work. 

During her session, Andrea will give attendees insight into her own writing process, speak about her experiences publishing books and plays, and share how she finds creative inspiration for her stories. If you’re interested in learning more about writing as a career, the world of publishing, or science-fiction, register today for The Science (Fiction) of Storytelling on November 19!

We’re excited to announce, and begin, a new effort to connect Ellis alumnae with our current Upper School students called Coffee Connections! 

What is it, you might be asking? Coffee Connections is an easy way for current Ellis students to connect with our alumnae to talk about potential career paths, college choices, or anything else they might be interested in. The Alumnae Office is creating a running list of alumnae on our mentoring platform, Ellis Alumnae Connect, that our students will have access to. Once it's up and running, students in the Upper School will be able to reach out to any alumnae that they would be interested in talking to and scheduling a time to have a virtual coffee. In the future, our hope is that meetings with local alumnae will be able to happen in person. For now, we are encouraging them to be done via Zoom, GoogleHangouts, or a similar platform. 

If you’re new to Ellis Alumnae Connect, make sure to opt in during registration and join the “Coffee Connections” group. If you’re already on the platform, click on the “Groups” tab and look for“Coffee Connections”

More information will be coming out via email soon with more in-depth details about what Coffee Connections is all about and how it will work.