Fundraising Fox

Pelema Ellis

Investor

Investor at MassChallenge

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

Find your path to Pelema

725 people in our graph share verified history with Pelema — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Paul KwanunlockedPelema: together at Stanford University (2002–2005)
×2Pelema: together at University of Michigan
×6Pelema: together at Stanford University
Pelema: together at Cabrillo College

About

Pelema Ellis is Executive Vice President and Head of the Not-for-Profit & Higher Education Search Practice at CBIZ. She works with entrepreneurial organizations and leaders in the higher education and not-for-profit sectors on talent identification, attraction, and organizational strategy. Her approach integrates design, strategy, and human capital considerations to address client needs.

Experience

  1. CBIZEVP & Head | Not-for-Profit & Higher Education Search Practicecurrent2025 — present
  2. Buffkin / BakerPartner | Higher Education2025
  3. Buffkin / BakerAssociate Partner2023 — 2025
  4. Buffkin / BakerPrincipal2022
  5. University of New HampshireVice Provost2019 — 2022Durham, NH
  6. Great Bay Community CollegePresident | Community Partner2018 — 2019Portsmouth, New Hampshire
  7. University of Missouri-ColumbiaVice Provost2016 — 2018
  8. Bryn Mawr CollegeChief Strategic Enrollment Officer2014 — 2016
  9. University of Nebraska OmahaAssociate Vice Chancellor/Assistant Professor2011 — 2014Division of Academic and Student Affairs
  10. University of San DiegoAssistant Dean2009 — 2011School of Leadership and Education
  11. University of MichiganGraduate Research Assistant2006 — 2009Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education
  12. Stanford UniversityFinancial Aid Counselor/Program Coordinator2002 — 2005
  13. Hospitality and Brokerage ServicesSales and Marketing Manager1995 — 2002

Skills & more

Talent Management1Organizational Development1Strategy ConsultingBusiness DevelopmentOrganizational DesignExecutive Search1Higher Education17Relationship Development1Strategic Planning1

From Pelema's professional profile.

Colleagues at MassChallenge

Alec Stern
Investor at G20 Ventures
Diane Hessan
Special Advisor at Data Point Capital

Frequently asked questions

Who is Pelema Ellis?
Pelema Ellis is Executive Vice President and Head of the Not-for-Profit & Higher Education Search Practice at CBIZ. She works with entrepreneurial organizations and leaders in the higher education and not-for-profit sectors on talent identification, attraction, and organizational strategy. Her approach integrates design, strategy, and human capital considerations to address client needs.
Where does Pelema Ellis work?
Pelema Ellis is at MassChallenge.
What check size does Pelema Ellis write?
Pelema Ellis typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
Where did Pelema Ellis go to school?
Pelema Ellis studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.B.A., Strategy and Entrepreneurship); University of Michigan (Ph.D., Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education); San José State University (B.A., M.A.).

Same school

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology2,000

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystPhilippe LaffontFounder & CIO of Coatue ManagementNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of Michigan811

Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; founder of TurpentineGlen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAlexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel CapitalZach PoleyPartner and Chief Technology Officer at Clear VenturesTom DanilekPartner, Rise of the Rest Real Estate at Revolution

+ 805 more

Also attended San José State University156

Arturo LitvinHead of Global Portfolio Development at Intel CapitalCarrie RuleVP Finance at Redpoint VenturesJamie WatsonGTM Coordinator at Scale Venture PartnersDeny KhoungPortfolio Support at 8VCKim TranFinance at Lux CapitalSathya ShanthakumarDirector of Investor Relations at 7wire Ventures

+ 150 more

Also attended Cabrillo College7

Diana ReyesOther at HeavybitAmira JanbayExecutive Assistant at Griffin Gaming PartnersZachary WorthingtonExecutive Vice President, Operations, Talent, and Finance at HIP InvestorGeoffrey VirtueEP, Teamfight Tactics at Riot GamesJustyn MyersDesigner & Editor at Kicker VenturesIsaac NichelsonExecutive Officer, Director at Circular Systems S.P.C

+ 1 more

Shared employers

Also worked at University of Missouri-Columbia22

Anna OglodzinskaExecutive Assistant at Sapphire VenturesLaura CainAnalyst, Talent at Five Elms CapitalPat McClainPrincipal, Financial Performance at Five Elms CapitalPaige LinkerExecutive Assistant at FINTOP CapitalMelissa LokugamageSenior Venture Associate at 82VSHannah BredarSenior Associate, Private Equity Investment Accounting at Adams Street Partners

+ 16 more

Also worked at Bryn Mawr College3

Nuan ZhangInvestor at Episode1Elisa SepulvedaPrincipal at L'ATTITUDE VenturesElizabeth (Lizzie) SiegleScout at Afore Capital

Also worked at University of Michigan178

Logan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTechSara Risch, PhDAdvisor at CincyTechPeter GiordanoFormer Global Director GTM Strategy at Scale Venture PartnersPaul BrownManaging Director at eLab VenturesDoug NealManaging Director at eLab VenturesCynthia JonesExecutive Assistant at Arboretum Ventures

+ 172 more

Also worked at Stanford University1,044

Ann Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at FloodgateBalaji SrinivasanAngel investor and founder of The Network SchoolMartin CasadoGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzMike KriegerCo-founder of Instagram; Chief Product Officer at AnthropicAndy FangCo-founder & CTO of DoorDashRyan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)

+ 1,038 more