Ellie McCreesh

Ellie McCreesh is excited to support SNAP-Ed implementing agencies throughout the state as Associate Program Manager with the NJ YMCA State Alliance. She is a CHES-certified Health Educator and prides herself in her creative, people-oriented approach to her work. Ellie provides technical support and facilitates inter-agency relationships between the YMCA State Alliance and its stakeholders.

Before joining the Alliance team, Ellie served as a Health Educator at a local health department, where she organized and executed evidence-based community initiatives. Notable projects include leading The Jersey Shore Regional Health Commission Suicide Prevention Coalition, during which she created and designed a guide for faith leaders looking to facilitate conversations about suicide within their communities. Additionally, she spearheaded Circle of Friends, a loneliness prevention group for older adults looking to foster strong interpersonal relationships. Ellie guided the group of 10 members through weekly activities centered around creative arts/culture, writing, reflection, and wellness.

Ellie's dedication to promoting the transformative power of social connection fuels her commitment as she works to cultivate healthy relationships in all aspects of her work. Ellie attended The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Health with a concentration in Health Communications. She was fortunate to have worked with TCNJ’s Anti-Violence Initiatives as a Primary Prevention Intern and with the NJ YMCA State Alliance as a Public Health Intern.

The YMCA holds a special place in Ellie’s heart, echoing back to her roots as a "Y kid" who spent summers at a YMCA sleep-away camp in Medford, NJ.