Ellie grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where she loved spending time outdoors and playing sports alongside her parents and two younger siblings. Ellie has always had a passion for athletics, whether this was playing basketball or soccer, running, or wake surfing on the lake. In high school, her love for sports led Ellie to join her school’s Unified club, which sparked her interest in promoting inclusion and creating accessible opportunities for individuals with disabilities. She continued this work throughout high school by volunteering as a trainer for an adaptive weightlifting program and interning as an Inclusion Specialist at Reach for Resources, an organization that provides community disability and mental health services. 

Ellie is now a fourth-year undergraduate student at UCLA, where she majors in neuroscience and minors in disability studies. Ellie is deeply involved in Special Olympics at UCLA, where she works alongside a team of coaches to provide opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate in competitive sports. Ellie is also President of the UCLA Women’s Club Basketball Team, a Student Coordinator for the UCLA Competitive Sports department, and a Research Assistant in the UCLA Addictions Lab. In her free time, you can find Ellie listening to music, watching Minnesota professional sports teams, or spending time with friends at the beach.

After graduation, Ellie plans to attend medical school with the hope of specializing in Psychiatry. She aspires to combine her passion for helping others with her interest in neuroscience to improve access to mental health care for individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. Ellie is extremely excited to join the Level Up team as a Direct Support Professional and is looking forward to helping participants grow in their independence and ability to achieve their goals.