Marcia Ellis

I retired in December 2006 from a professional career in international development with a focus on education that spanned over 25 years. My last role in that capacity was as Senior Vice President and Co-Director of the Global Education Center of the Academy for Educational Development (now FHI360), a large nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of families and communities worldwide. Since retirement, I sought and quickly found opportunities to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life, justice, and peace of individuals, families and communities in the DC area and globally. I have been involved in HIV and AIDS and health and wellness advocacy for over 20 years.

I currently serve as the Community Coordinator for the DC Center for AIDS Research or CFAR and I Chair the CFAR Community Advisory Board (CAB), facilitating and supporting meaningful community engagement and partnerships between CFAR investigators and the DC community.  I actively participate on other CABs in DC, including the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG); the HIV Prevention; and the VA Medical Affairs CABs.  For several years, I worked closely with The Women’s Collective, a community-based organization in Washington, DC supporting girls, women and their families affected by, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS. I served as a member and then Chair of their Board Directors for seven years. 

I consider myself a social justice advocate and activist who respects and promotes the rights of people, especially those most vulnerable. I enjoy coaching in leadership, organizational development and management, and team- and relationship-building, primarily in the nonprofit sector. Networking and facilitating connections between people and organizations is something I enjoy immensely. I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in English and International Development Education, respectively, from Stanford University in California. I was born Washington, DC and raised in Arlington, Virginia. I have also lived and worked in east and southern Africa and traveled extensively throughout Africa and parts of Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. My other involvements include the support and promotion of local and international art and culture.

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