Alumnae
Reunion
Ellis Reunion Weekend 2026: Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who joined us on campus Oct. 9–10 for Reunion Weekend 2026! Alumnae from across the decades came back to reconnect with old friends, relive favorite memories, and celebrate the milestone classes ending in 1 and 6. Campus was full of energy all weekend, and we loved seeing you there.
Save the Date: Reunion Weekend 2027
1
/
10
Reunion Weekend Information
Frequently Asked Questions
List of 4 items.
-
I’m coming in from out-of-town, where can I stay?
We recommend staying at Springhill Suites, Bakery Square which is right across the street from The Ellis School. Other hotels in the area include Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, Hotel Indigo, The Inn on Negley, and the Hyatt House. We do recommend booking your room early as this weekend is also a Steelers home game. -
What is there to do within walking distance of Ellis?
Surrounded by six different neighborhoods, The Ellis School is in the heart of Pittsburgh’s East End. With museums, parks, restaurants, and coffee shops a short walk away from campus, there are plenty of family-friendly activities, places, and events to discover every day of the week—and they’re all just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Ellis campus!
We recommend checking out:- Mellon Park
- Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-East Liberty
- East End Food Co-op
- Bakery Square
- The Frick
- Frick Park
- Walnut Street and South Highland Avenue in Shadyside and Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill for great restaurants and shopping!
-
Do you have any restaurant recommendations close to Ellis?
Of course we do—we love to eat! Some of our favorites in the neighborhood are: Point Brugge, Urban Tap, Noodlehead, Casbah, Mad Mex, Five Points Artisan Bakeshop, and Pino’s. There is also the City Kitchen food hall in Bakery Square, as well as täkō tôrtä and Alta Via Pizzeria. If you’re willing to venture a bit further, check out one of the hottest Pittsburgh restaurants in the Strip District, Balvanera, where Ellis alumna Ginger FISHER Baldwin ‘02 is the head pastry chef. -
How do I find out about Milestone Class Parties?
Please contact your Class Representative for more information on your Class Party.
Thank You to Our 2026 Reunion Classes and Class Representatives
Thank you to all the alumnae who came back for Reunion Weekend 2026, and to the class representatives who brought their classmates together.
Looking Ahead: Class Representatives for 2027
Is your class celebrating a milestone in 2027? If your class doesn’t have a reunion representative yet and you’d like to be one, contact alumnae@theellisschool.org.
List of 12 items.
-
Class of 1956
Class Representative:
Alice GEALY Morigi -
Class of 1966
Class Representative:Susan BARTHOLOMEW Manecke -
Class of 1971
Class Representative:Meryl RECTANUS Thomas -
Class of 1976
Class Representative:Gretchen MERTZ Cowell -
Class of 1981
Class Representative:
Deborah CHAPMAN Edwards -
Class of 1986
Class Representative:
Allison KARN -
Class of 1991
Class Representative:
Santina O'DONNELL Allen -
Class of 1996
Class Representative:
Kathleen GRIFFIN Borgstrom -
Class of 2001
Class Representative:
Shira TOEPLITZ Center -
Class of 2006
Class Representative:
Molly ONUFER -
Class of 2011
Class Representative:
Natalie HONKALA -
Class of 2016
Class Representative:
Olivia MUSE
2026 Award Recipients
List of 3 items.
-
Jui Joshi '81, 2026 Sara Frazer Ellis Award
We were proud to honor Jui Joshi ‘81 with the 2026 Sara Frazer Ellis Award for her outstanding contributions to her community and her lasting commitment to Ellis. Jui joined Ellis in grade 5 and lived out what it means to be All Girls. All In. She played field hockey and lacrosse and took part in Glee Club, SUN, and Yearbook Photography. After graduating, she stayed involved as Treasurer and President of the Ellis Alumnae Association and served on the inaugural Alumnae Alliance Leadership Council. -
Dr. Paulette Cutruzzula Dreher ’06, Athletic Hall of Fame
Paulette CUTRUZZULA Dreher ‘06 was an Ellis lifer and a standout multi-sport athlete. She captained the field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse teams and received the Senior Athletic Award. At Franklin & Marshall College, she helped the women’s lacrosse team win two national championships and earned All-American honors. She later returned to Ellis as a teacher and coach before going into medicine. Today, Dr. Dreher is a board-certified urologist in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where she is the first female urologist in both her practice and her county. -
Heather Skurek ’01, Athletic Hall of Fame
Heather Skurek ‘01 was a standout tennis and lacrosse athlete at Ellis. She earned multiple MVP honors and led the tennis team to two WPIAL championships. She captained the tennis team for two years and played varsity lacrosse for four, then went on to play Division I lacrosse at Davidson College. Today, she lives in Columbus, Ohio, where she coaches and leads youth sports teams. She recently picked up her tennis racket again after 25 years away from the court and keeps sharing her love of sports with the next generation.
2026 Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge: Thank You!
Thank you to every reunion class that took part in the reimagined Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge! Each class gave together to the Ellis Fund, with some friendly competition along the way, and those gifts make a lasting difference for current and future Ellis girls.
Stay Connected
Update your contact information to connect and communicate with Ellis all year long. From our alumnae newsletter, alumnae Instagram account, and private Alumnae Facebook group, to the Ellis Magazine, we want you to stay in the know on all things Ellis. We’re also posting and Instagramming campus life seven days a week, so give us a follow, like, or retweet next time you’re browsing your feeds!
See What Your Fellow Alumnae Are Up To
Ellis Alumnae
-
Five More Minutes: How an Ellis Education Shaped Carolina Vélez ’06’s Advocacy Journey
Carolina Vélez ’06 remembers the last family vacation as a picture-perfect escape. She and her husband, Adam, traveled to a Western Mexico beach town, with sixteen family members—parents, sister Nicole Vélez ’00, cousins, and friends. The setting felt impossibly secure: a gated peninsula with immaculate grounds, attentive staff. Each day, they rotated between beach clubs, riding golf carts under cloudless skies. By every measure, it was idyllic. -
A Legacy of Helping Others
How Three Ellis Alumnae Are Making Their Mark on Maternal Health in Allegheny County
Alumnae speak frequently and fondly of the lasting friendships they formed as students at The Ellis School. An environment where girls are encouraged to be their authentic selves, raise each other up, and create close connections with their classmates, the Ellis campus has been the starting point for so many decades-spanning camaraderies. -
All in the Family
A four-generation Ellis family on the importance of girls’ schools, the impact of Ellis, and ensuring a legacy that will benefit future generations of girls and young women
On a busy day in May, when The Ellis School’s students and teachers excitedly looked ahead to end-of-year ceremonies and Commencement, Louise Kay CHILDS Woodside ’87 visited campus and indulged in some quiet time to look back. -
Alumna Spotlight: Five Questions for Colleen DAILY Simonds ’95
Colleen DAILY Simonds has carved out a reputation for designing spaces that are as bold and original as they are beautiful. An accomplished interior designer who has been featured in publications including House Beautiful, Luxe, Good Housekeeping, and The New York Times, Colleen has built a career that seamlessly combines business and beauty. Whether it’s an unexpected use of color or a fearless combination of pattern and texture, her aesthetic is unapologetically distinctive—and she credits Ellis with nurturing the sense of self that allows her to trust her instincts. -
Future Vision: Kjerstin Pugh ’03 on Peacebuilding, Art, and Inclusion
Peacebuilding can feel like a big, complicated system, conjuring images of high-stakes negotiations or global summits. But for Kjerstin Pugh ’03, peace begins in the quiet moments—when people come together, share space, and begin to truly see each other. -
Rachel EKSTROM Courage ’98 Finds the Story in Every Chapter
For Rachel EKSTROM Courage ’98, storytelling has always been at the heart of her life. As a literary agent, publishing professional, and author, she’s built a career on championing voices and stories that inspire, challenge, and connect readers. But when she looks back, she’s quick to credit her earliest lessons in storytelling to her time at The Ellis School. -
One Year After Ellis: Francesca LaRoche ’24
Despite some initial nervousness about leaving Ellis for a school where she didn’t know anybody, Ellis Lifer Francesca LaRoche ’24 immersed herself in college life. -
Maddie Gallagher ’12 Takes Philanthropic Angle in Banking Career
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. -
Fostering Bold Change: Cally MYHRUM ’06 Seeks to Fill a Gap in the Insurance Industry
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. -
Heather BOSSERT Cunningham, Ph.D. ’89 Helps Teachers Focus on Cultural, Racial Awareness in the Classroom
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
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 her fair share of challenges and has helped her companies navigate them—thanks, in no small part, to the confidence and values instilled in her as an Ellis student. -
Ellis Pillars Propel Lauren SCHULTZ ’00 into McDonald’s Leadership
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, first with Ronald McDonald House Charities as Manager of Marketing and Communications, and then with McDonald’s USA. -
Amanda HOLLAND-MINKLEY, Ph.D. '91 Echoes Ellis Experience in Her Higher-Ed Classroom
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
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 housemate situation to tolerate, Sara saw an opportunity to learn from her peers—and to teach others how to do the same. -
Nell COX Yates ’02, Visual Arts Educator and Owner of Birdhouse Ceramics
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 Department Chair at Viewpoint School to owning and managing Birdhouse Ceramics, a small-batch pottery studio, out of her home in California, this lifer has made a colorful career out of a passion that was sparked in Ellis’ own art studios. -
Amy WOLF ’96, Asst. Director Digital Media & Marketing
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, Amy has led a multitude of highly visible projects. From redesigning their website twice to producing advertising campaigns from soup to nuts to shaping The Trust’s e-marketing and social media presence, Amy is a master storyteller and creative leader who helps donors understand how their generosity can be turned into action. -
Lauren DRAKE '16, PhD Candidate
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 researcher in the Shorter Lab, studying the biochemical mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and contributing to multiple projects and papers. In addition to these pursuits, she completed minors in creative writing and journalism and received Honors in English for her creative thesis. As a member of the Lippmann Lab at Vanderbilt, Lauren improves the complexity of brain organoids for use as a physiologically relevant neurodegenerative disease model. She was recently awarded a National Institutes of Health T32 Alzheimer’s Disease training grant. She is also a member of the executive board of the Diversity and Science Lecture Series at Vanderbilt. -
Lauren INDOVINA '01, Director
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 original art and directed for internationally acclaimed design, animation, VFX studios, and agencies. Her work is included in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent motion collection, her sculptures have been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, she has directed Super Bowl ads, and her art has been on display on Rodeo Drive, at Radio City Music Hall, and in Times Square. Most recently, Lauren earned credits as the concept designer for Beyoncé's film Black Is King and the animation director for Amazon's Utopia series. She is currently directing and designing scripts for animated feature content and developing artificial intelligence and virtual reality characters and narratives. -
Marsha RUCKER '86, Attorney
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 Birmingham District Office in 2008 and became the District’s regional attorney in December 2016. Prior to coming to the EEOC, Marsha was in-house counsel for two large public housing authorities. Early in her career, Marsha was a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. In this capacity, she represented more than 500 clients in various courts and tribunals in matters involving federal and state housing law, contract law, and public benefits. In 2019, Marsha’s work was recognized with the EEOC’s Chair’s Organizational Performance Award, the highest honor conferred within the organization. Marsha received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Duke University and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where she was a Patricia Roberts Harris National Fellow. -
Nancy HAYES Kilgore '65, Writer
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 writer, she works as a pastoral psychotherapist in Burlington, Vermont, and leads writing workshops for people to write and reflect on their own lives in a safe and welcoming space.
1/20
Alumnae In The News
-
Allison (Davenport) SIMMONS '82
TRIB | January 2025
-
Lani LAZZARI '12
TRIB Live | December 2024
-
Dr. Dara D. Méndez '98, Dr. Mehret Birru Talabi '98, and Dr. Tamar Krishnamurti '98
School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh | October 2024
