Prior to joining the firm, Ellie served as the State Legislative Programs Manager for People for the American Way, where she provided legislative research and campaign expertise to state legislators and community-based organizations across the country.
Before working for People for the American Way, Ellie was the executive director of Citizens Project, a grassroots organization in Colorado Springs, CO dedicated to fostering a community valuing diversity, equality and religious freedom by upholding the separation of church and state and generating community dialogue between unusual civic partners. During her tenure at Citizens Project, the organization filed an IRS complaint letter against Focus on the Family for questionable voter education practices, grew its online activist network by 40% while monitoring local school board and city council actions, and successfully blocked a slate of pro-privatization school board candidates from election through aggressive media and voter education efforts.
In addition to her work experience, Ellie has served on the boards of the Pikes Peak Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Colorado Springs and the Colorado College Public Interest Fellowship Program, where she contributed substantial fundraising and strategic planning expertise to emerging programs and organizations.
A native of Chappaqua, NY, Ellie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Colorado College with a degree in Asian Studies and holds a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado-Denver.