Samantha Elebiary
President
Samantha has been at Ithaca College since 2017 when she joined the Residential Life team as a Residence Director. She then served as the BOLD Program Director for almost five years, offering professional and leadership development to women students on campus. Sam joined the Career Center team in June of 2023 as the Associate Director of Career Engagement and Education. Sam’s skillset includes strong organizational and administrative skills, and extensive programming experience.
Prior to Ithaca College, Sam received her Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Canisius University. She has worked with students in some capacity for ten years now and is passionate about serving under-resourced and underrepresented student populations. She is a proud first-generation college student herself, so she values the importance of a strong education.
Sam is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer – she served in Ghana as a teacher from 2012-2014. She lives in Ithaca with her family and is involved in the local community. She has sat on the grants committee of the Ithaca Public Education Initiative (IPEI) for five years and joined their board in September 2023. She has supported various initiatives at IMS, including Teacher Appreciation Week and the Fundraising Committee.
Jennifer Walsh-Emond
Secretary
Jennifer is a research associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where she studies the ecology, behavior, and conservation of birds. Through this role, she has been dedicated to combining science, education, outreach, and public engagement. Jen is committed to service roles both in her professional and personal circles and is at the end of her tenure as an elected councilor for the American Ornithological Society, where she has been working collaboratively to guide decisions on annual budgets and strategic planning initiatives for the organization. Jen and her husband Marc have a son who attends IMS and an older son who has recently graduated from the primary classroom. She is beyond grateful for her family’s Montessori experience and is excited to give back and serve the IMS community.
Alison Gelsleichter
Board Member
Alison is an intellectual property attorney and for the past twelve years has focused her practice on patent infringement litigation. She studied chemistry at King’s College and has an M.S. in natural resources policy from the State University of New York and a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law. Alison and her husband Eric are both natives of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and after spending several years working in Washington, DC and Syracuse they moved with their children to Ithaca and joined the IMS community in 2020. They have a son who is currently in the Maple Room and two older daughters who previously attended IMS in the Willow, Elm, and Pine Rooms. In her spare time, Alison and her family can be found running, hiking, camping, and enjoying all the beautiful scenery and activities that Ithaca and Central New York have to offer.
Tara Conklin
Staff Representative
Tara Conklin is the Lead Guide in the Elm Room at Ithaca Montessori School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Lock Haven University and is certified in Early Childhood Montessori education. Since joining IMS in 2019, Tara has brought warmth, dedication, and a deep respect for the Montessori philosophy to her work with young children.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Tara is one of nine siblings and treasures her close-knit family. She now lives in Ithaca with her husband and children, whom she absolutely adores. A true nature and animal lover, Tara finds joy in the simple things and loves spending quality time with her family above all else.
Tara was drawn to early childhood education by the Montessori approach, which honors the individuality of each child and emphasizes hands-on, respectful learning. Her nurturing presence and commitment to creating a peaceful, supportive environment help children thrive both socially and academically.
