Who We Are
Shana Ellis, Executive Director
Shana Ellis has more than 25 years of experience in non-profit management in the areas of aging, disabilities, fundraising and incubation of new programs. Most recently, she was a Vice President of Programs and Services at Area Agency on Aging in Phoenix, Arizona, overseeing programs that enable seniors to enrich their quality of life and remain as independent as possible.
Prior to her work at Area Agency, she was the President/CEO of The Centers for Habilitation, helping individuals with disabilities through employment, housing, transportation and socialization programs.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems/Business and a master’s degree in Public Administration, both from Arizona State University. She has served on many non-profit boards that focus on youth, transportation, disabilities, leadership aging and homelessness.
Additionally, Shana served eight years on the Tempe City Council, with two years as Vice Mayor. She is a graduate of Valley Leadership, has received the Don Carlos Humanitarian Award for community service and was honored by the Phoenix Business Journal as an Outstanding Woman in Business.
Christine “Krickette” Wetherington, Project Manager
Christine "Krickette" Wetherington joined Watts College after serving more than three years as a Director of Community Impact at Valley of the Sun United Way, where among her responsibilities was overseeing the organization’s work in ending homelessness on both the individual and systemic levels.
Prior to United Way, Krickette spent 2 ½ years as executive director of Hope Village Arizona, an intentional intergenerational community of children adopted out of the foster care system, their families and active seniors. Her work experience also includes four years as executive director of the Gilbert Community Action Network, and nearly eight years before that as director of programs for Community Services of Arizona, Inc.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in Social Work from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Additionally, Krickette was a 2019 fellow in ASU’s Knowledge Exchange for Resilience program and a graduate of the American Express Leadership Academy at ASU. She has served on several non-profit boards that focus on anti-poverty programs, homelessness and community development, as well as the National Association of Social Workers, Arizona Branch and Gilbert Leadership Program.