Biography
Lisa Scalessi (she/her) is the Director of Advancement at the University of Chicago Graham School, where she leads the school’s philanthropic strategy, builds relationships, and stewards the support of Graham’s generous community of benefactors. In this role, Lisa works closely with donors and internal partners to strengthen engagement, grow a culture of giving, and advance Graham’s mission. She can be reached at lscalessi@uchicago.edu.
Lisa holds a B.A. in History and Secondary Education, with a minor in Social Studies Education, from Marquette University. She brings over a decade of experience in higher education advancement, having previously served as Director of Regional Development for the Chicago region at Marquette. During her tenure there, she held multiple roles focused on annual and major giving. Earlier in her career, Lisa was Director of Alumni Relations at Triton College and began her professional journey as a high school social studies teacher.
Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and reading.
Which Graham course would you most like to take and why?
Lisa hopes to take courses in history—particularly Roman history and early American history—as these areas align with her academic background and personal interests.