CV

Current

Executive Director | Community Mindfulness Project Scaling access to mindfulness-based mental health training, social-emotional learning, and restorative justice partnerships in under-resourced communities across Fairfield County, CT AUG 2023 – PRESENT

Fractional Consultant | Strategy, Development & Storytelling Partnering with mission-driven leaders in social impact, health equity, and climate to grow through strategic fundraising, partnerships, and narrative NOV 2021 – PRESENT

Past Experience

Director of Partnerships | Matter Unlimited JUN 2021 – JUN 2023

Head of Impact & Partner Success | Summer OCT 2019 – JUN 2021

Director of Partnerships | Grand Central Tech / Company Ventures FEB 2018 – SEP 2019

Head of TED Institute Partnerships Built and led TED's highest revenue-generating corporate partnership program MAR 2016 – FEB 2018

Program Manager | TED Institute DEC 2014 – MAR 2016

Partnerships Account Manager & Events Coordinator | TED OCT 2012 – DEC 2014

Sponsorships Consultant | Clinton Global Initiative 2012

Event Operations | Clinton Global Initiative AUG 2011 – FEB 2012 Inspiring Change, Delivering Results

Program Assistant | Microfinance Consultancy Services — Lagos, Nigeria 2012

Assistant Volunteer Coordinator | charity: water MAY 2009 – MAY 2010 Leading volunteers year round. At charity: ball annual 2010 gala: over $1M raised in one night

Volunteer & Community

Grant Review Committee | Impact Fairfield County (2023 – Present)

Mentor — CUNY, NYC Mayor's Office, WiTNY, The Future Project, IRC (2010 – 2019)

Emerging Leaders Committee | New York Women's Foundation (2020)

Social Innovation Fellow | StartingBloc (2017)

Education

BA | NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study (2012)

Fellowships, Service & Certifications

Redwood Fellow, Community Leadership Board | Redwood Fellows (2025 - PRESENT)

Mental Health First Aid | National Council for Mental Wellbeing (2025)

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale | Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (2024)

Intro to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction | Community Mindfulness Project (2024)

Corporate Sustainability Certificate | NYU Stern School of Business (2023)

In my words

A mix of press appearances, podcast conversations, and writing — all places where you can hear directly from me":

▶ "Where Curls Come From" — Redwood Fellows Podcast (2026) Ella in conversation with Eva Bermudez Zimmerman on identity, leadership, and legacy.

▶ Melissa in the Morning — WICC 600 Interview (2024) On mindfulness in public schools, chronic illness, Alzheimer's prevention, and CMP's expansion across Connecticut.

▶ Melissa in the Morning — WICC 600 Interview (2023)

▶ Matter Unlimited — Brand Video (2023) On partnerships, purpose, and building programs that last.

📝 Allies, Let's Talk About Pride Month — Medium (2019) On what it actually means to show up as an ally, year-round.

📝 Student Debt Has Become a National Crisis — Medium (2019) A personal essay on financial access, defaulted loans, and why systemic reform matters.