The Ellis School

Why All-Girls
Why an all-girls school?

The Ellis School is a leader in girls’ education, and we put girls first. It’s about making sure girls are the focus 100 percent of the time.

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See what we're all about! Complete our simple inquiry form to receive more information or register for our next event.

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Three Divisions, One School

Relationships are key to learning and growing. Because of our close-knit, all-girls environment, Ellis girls develop uniquely strong bonds across campus.

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Alumnae

Reunion

Ellis Reunion Weekend: October 10 & 11, 2025

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 0 and 5. Join us back on campus to reconnect with old friends, relive fond memories, and commemorate your shared experiences.

ALL ALUMNAE ARE WELCOME

Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge

We are thrilled to kick off the reimagined Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge!

This spirited challenge invites each reunion class to celebrate their shared memories and generous spirit by joining forces to make a collective gift to the Ellis Fund—with a fun twist of friendly competition! In 2024, the Class of 1973 made Ellis history during their 50th Reunion by raising the highest total ever from a single class. The year before, the Class of 1979 rose to the occasion and claimed victory in the challenge.

For many alumnae, milestone reunions are a time to increase their usual annual contributions, while for others, it's an opportunity to make their first gift to Ellis. The primary goal of reunion giving is participation, offering the entire class a chance to give back in honor of their special celebration.

Rally your class and demonstrate your Ellis pride by participating in the 2025 Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge. We can't wait to see which class will show the most school spirit and make a lasting difference for current and future Ellisians with their donations. Will it be the class of '75, '95, or another milestone class ending in 0 or 5?

Make Your Gift to the Ellis Fund

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
- The Kelly Strayhorn Theater
- 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. Alumnae not marking a milestone year are invited to join us for dinner at several restaurants throughout Pittsburgh and can register for these dinners on the registration page.

Reunion Weekend Attendees and Class Representatives

Check out who’s registered for Reunion Weekend! This page will be updated each week on Friday afternoon. If you believe you have registered but do not see your name, please contact development@theellisschool.org.

If you don’t have a Reunion Representative for your class year and would like to be one, please contact alumnae@theellisschool.org to become one!

List of 14 items.

Class of 1955

Class Representative:
Dede WEIR Wills
Class of 1960

Class Representative:
Cynthia SCOTT Amerman
Class of 1965

Class Representative:
Carolin KIRKPATRICK Dick
Class of 1970

Class Representative:
Liz SUCCOP Altman
Class of 1975

Class Representative:
Betsy CHODER
Class of 1980

Class Representative:
Mary VAN BUSKIRK
Class of 1985

Class Representative:
Ann CANCILLA Guadino
Class of 1990

Class Representative:
Alissa MANCUSO Poole
Class of 1995

Representative:
Still Needed!
Class of 2000

Class Representative:
Courtney SYSKOWSKI
Class of 2005

Representative:
Still Needed!
Class of 2010

Representative:
Still Needed!
Class of 2015

Class Representative:
Erin ROBERSON
Class of 2020

Class Representative:
Adylade KRIMMEL

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!

Update Your Contact Information!

See What Your Fellow Alumnae Are Up To

Ellis Alumnae

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.
Sarah ZIMMERMAN Tuthill '87, Founder and Owner of ezpz gatherings

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, having just opened a brick and mortar store in Aspinwall, is offering beautifully constructed boards to the Pittsburgh area. Want to learn to make your own charcuterie board? Join us on June 15, 2021 for Ellis After Fifth Ave: Building the Perfect Charcuterie Board with Sarah ZIMMERMAN Tuthill ’87 from 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Colleen DAILY Simonds '95, Interior Designer

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 pursue a creative career back in her hometown.

Check out Colleen's After Fifth Ave. session, Taking the Creative Road, to hear her talk about pursuing a creative career, starting her own business, and all things interior design!
Lila BALISTRIERI '18, Student

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 the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lila interned with ApiJect Systems America, Inc., a corporation that focuses on developing safer ways to deliver injectable medication to communities worldwide. Learn more about Lila and how she’s bringing her many interests to the table to make an impact at Rochester and beyond.
Jamie Beth COHEN '93, Storyteller

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 York City and has worked with storytellers of all experience levels to perfect their own craft. Watch her Ellis After Fifth Ave session, Telling Your Own Story, to perfect your own storytelling practices.
Beth HAMMER Genter '77, Financial Planner and Manager

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. With over 31 years of experience in the financial world, Beth is committed to growing her client’s portfolios and ensuring that those in her sphere, especially women, know how to best manage their finances. You can watch her Ellis After Fifth Ave. session, Investing in Yourself, here for tips and tricks about how to budget and invest for your own success.
Kristen HAUSER '10, Automotive Engineer

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 software development, program management, and product launch to deliver products, including the Lincoln Continental and F-150 Raptor. Now a Powertrain Fuel Economy Integration Engineer at the company, Kristen’s team is responsible for designing and implementing software that controls the electromechanical systems which allow gas engines and automatic transmissions to comply with federal emissions and fuel economy standards, as well as deliver optimal performance to customers. In her role, Kristen uses analytical tools and lab testing to find fuel economy opportunities within these control systems and collaborates with North American, European, and Chinese teams to implement the changes and ensure future regulatory compliance.