Isa Ellis

Senior Program Officer

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Isa Ellis is a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on expanding access to equitable education and employment pathways that lead to upward mobility for learners who have been historically and systemically marginalized. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Isa was national vice president at the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA), launching the organization’s first national postsecondary and workforce development strategy. Isa’s background includes leading performance management and school turnaround at Chicago Public Schools, directing organizational growth at the Achievement Network, and brokering cross-sector partnerships as head of global education and workforce at the Clinton Global Initiative; where she facilitated the organization’s largest education commitment of more than $600M in investments to increase equity in girls’ education, globally. Isa serves on the boards of Digital Promise, Workforce Matters, UNCF Pacific Northwest, and Seattle Central College.