“If students are, for financial reasons, having to choose between a college that isn’t their dream school and Sewanee, I want them to be able to go to Sewanee.”
Like many non-native New Yorkers, Cecily Millen Elizondo, C’12, has changed addresses a few times since arriving in the city. Not all of her possessions have survived each move, but at least one item has consistently traveled with her—the annotated Shakespeare textbook she used in one of her Sewanee literature courses. “It’s adding dollars to my moving fees,” she says, but she still can’t seem to part with it.
Originally from Raleigh, Elizondo says she fell in love with Sewanee right away during her college search. These days, she serves as director of advancement at George Jackson Academy (GJA), an independent middle school in New York City that enrolls boys from all economic backgrounds. Working within the education system, she says, enables her to see how a class, program, or mentorship can transform a young person’s trajectory.
Motivated, in part, by her professional experience, Elizondo recently created a need-based endowed scholarship at Sewanee. Her gift made her eligible for junior membership in the Sewanee Women’s Alliance (SWA), and she quickly accepted the opportunity to join. “I think it’s really remarkable to have thought leaders around the table who are all women,” she says, “and who have the lived experience of being a woman at Sewanee.” Established in 2025, the SWA is committed to increasing scholarship funding for all Sewanee students regardless of gender, while strengthening the University’s culture of mentorship.
Growing up, Elizondo attended a large public high school, where, she says, she often felt a little lost and “not like one of the smart kids.” Her self-esteem received a boost in Sewanee’s small classrooms, she says—particularly in English courses taught by Kelly Malone, Virginia Craighill, and Dale Richardson. As Elizondo’s English 101 professor, Richardson initially gave her Cs, but told her not to get discouraged. “He said, ‘I know we can get you to an A.’ We eventually did.”
Outside of academia, Elizondo gained leadership experience through her involvement with Theta Pi. During her senior year, she served as the sorority’s president, working with other officers and members to build consensus around policies such as the University’s anti-hazing mandate. Elizondo says the values she cultivated in Theta Pi have stayed with her in her career—for instance, she focuses on “lifting up and mentoring” new employees, rather than saddling them with unpleasant, junior-level tasks.
As an English major, Elizondo gravitated toward Sewanee’s study-abroad program in Oxford, England, which emphasizes the humanities. Her junior semester in Oxford was “a life-changing experience,” she says, not only from an academic perspective, but also in the deep friendships it created. Elizondo underscores the value of the Sewanee Pledge, which enables eligible students to study abroad while retaining their University scholarships and without incurring additional tuition costs. “I think it enables students who are receiving financial aid to take advantage of an incredible opportunity,” she says, “without feeling like they’ll have to pile on more expenses.”
One week after graduating from Sewanee, Elizondo moved to New York City, having accepted a position as a marketing and communications intern in the office of then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg. From there, she transitioned to work in advertising and sales before switching to development. Prior to starting her role at GJA, she served for five years as director of growth at All Souls NYC on the Upper East Side. Elizondo says Sewanee’s well-known religious heritage gave her an advantage in the job interview process.
Elizondo credits her Sewanee classmate Faith Spencer Armstrong, C’12, an SWA executive board member, with introducing her to the SWA’s mission. Though Elizondo and Armstrong did not often cross paths on the Mountain, they bonded more recently over their mutual affection for Sewanee. “I don’t think there are many universities that can say that alumni are forging these wonderful, close friendships after graduation, just because they went to the same school,” Elizondo says.
Along with her scholarship gift, Elizondo is a longtime Sewanee Fund donor. She says working in development has strengthened her belief in the importance of giving to an annual fund, no matter the size of the contribution. As she works to grow GJA’s donor base, she regularly shares a simple message: Participation matters. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” she says.
Associate Vice President for Advancement Terri Griggs Williams, C’81, who assisted in the SWA’s formation and helps coordinate its outreach, says junior members like Elizondo enrich Sewanee in critical ways. “As relatively recent graduates, our junior SWA members are especially in tune with the needs of current students,” she says. “Their perspectives are so important as we form leaders who are fully prepared to tackle modern challenges.” Junior membership is available to women under age 40 who create a scholarship at the $50,000 level. Gifts may be made in a single year or over a period of up to five years.
Elizondo’s philanthropy is strongly tied with her desire to increase the accessibility of the Sewanee experience, she says. “If students are, for financial reasons, having to choose between a college that isn’t their dream school and Sewanee, I want them to be able to go to Sewanee.” From the moment she arrived on campus as a prospective student, she adds, “I knew Sewanee was where I wanted to end up.”
