Meet the Team behind GenderPro

Executive Director

Dr. Mary Ellsberg is the executive director and founding director of the Global Women's Institute at the George Washington University. Dr. Ellsberg has more than 30 years of experience in international research and programs on gender and development. Before joining the university in August 2012, Dr. Ellsberg served as vice president for research and programs at the International Center for Research on Women. Dr. Ellsberg’s deep connection to global gender issues stems not only from her academic work but also from living in Nicaragua for nearly 20 years, leading public health and women’s rights advocacy. She was a member of the core research team of the World Health Organization’s Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Against Women, and she has authored more than 40 books and articles on violence against women and girls. Dr. Ellsberg earned a doctorate in epidemiology and public health from Umeå University in Sweden and a bachelor's degree in Latin American studies from Yale University.

Lead Research Scientist

At the Global Women’s Institute, Chelsea plays a primary leadership role in the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Research and Evidence Consortium. She joined the Global Women's Institute at its founding while serving as a Presidential Fellow at the George Washington University (a selective program that offers high-achieving students the opportunity for professional development while completing a master’s degree).

Chelsea has contributed to the strategic growth of the Global Women's Institute by developing key policy initiatives and communications and outreach programs, as well as participating in research on violence against women and girls globally. Chelsea holds a PhD in public policy and public administration, focused in gender and social policy, from the George Washington University. Her doctoral work explored theories of justice for survivors of campus sexual assault in the United States, with a goal of improved policymaking on the issue. Chelsea is committed to amplifying the voices of survivors of violence in research and policy.

Assistant Director of Research Administration

Marianne brings to the Global Women's Institute extensive grants, finance and project management experience from more than 10 years at The Brookings Institution. She has an educational background in political science and peace studies, including master’s degrees from Syracuse University and the University of Bradford.

GenderPro Program Management Consultant

Elena supports the implementation and improvement of the GenderPro Capacity Building Programme, advancing gender integration in health systems and global development.

A biomedical engineer turned gender and innovation specialist, Elena has led digital transformation initiatives and founded Guala, a Honduran nonprofit that uses 3D printing and artificial intelligence to provide prosthetics for survivors of violence. Before joining the Global Women’s Institute, she contributed to gender policy development at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and led partnership and fundraising initiatives for international and Swedish organizations. She is an active advocate for women in technology, contributing to research, mentoring, and authorship that highlight the role of women in STEAM and digital equity.

She holds an MS in health economics, policy, and management from Karolinska Institutet and a BS in biomedical engineering from the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana. A Forbes-recognized innovator, she is passionate about leveraging technology and systems thinking to promote gender equality and sustainability.

Research Scientist

Gabriella first joined the Global Women's Institute in 2023 as part of Putting Survivors at the Center, a research project that piloted innovative strategies to build the capacity of humanitarian organizations without experience in the fields of gender and gender-based violence to support survivors following a spontaneous disclosure of gender-based violence.

Prior to joining the Global Women's Institute, Gabriella worked as a research consultant for various international and local nongovernmental organizations and agencies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on issues related to gender, women’s economic empowerment and labor force participation and women’s labor migration. Gabriella holds a PhD in global gender and sexuality studies from the University at Buffalo SUNY. Her doctoral work used the framework of social reproduction to explore the racialization and feminization of care workers in Lebanon, with a focus on women migrant domestic workers.