Ellen Sivon began her career as a senior administrator and legislative director for the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA), administering professional development programs in international education through contracts with the Office of International Training of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).  As part of her MA in International Development she authored a study for NAFSA, Private Sector Funding Available to Foreign Students in the United States.  After earning a Certificate to Teach English as a Second Language, she was a private ESOL tutor and substitute ESOL teacher for Montgomery County, MD, Public Schools.  Her volunteer work has included Board membership and fundraising for The Center to Prevent Childhood Malnutrition and serving as a host for international visitors arriving in the DC area through Meridian House International.  Ellen also had a 20-year volunteer affiliation with the St. Columba’s/Truesdell Education Partnership (STEP) in Washington, DC, a program that provided academic and extracurricular activities to enhance long-term educational opportunities for 73 inner-city students. Her responsibilities included Board membership, tutoring, mentoring, fundraising and serving as volunteer coordinator responsible for recruitment, training, and assignment of volunteers.  Ms. Sivon has two grown daughters in the DC area and lives in Bethesda, MD. 

“What attracted me to Impact 100 is the simplicity of the model: one woman/one vote/big impact! Each member has a stake in the outcome and thus a real connection to her giving, and an opportunity to make a real and visible difference for those in need in her community.”