Ellysa Smith joined the DRNC board in December 2022. She resides in the Angier area and serves as Chief Human at CuraHuman. She is a Human Resources expert who empowers people in organizations at all levels to become their best self, leveraging the human experience of their vulnerability and uncertainty, to inspire them to cure their human in self-leadership transformation. Ellysa serves as CH^3, Chief Human at CuraHuman Coaching Human Coaching Human. CuraHuman is about cultivating and caring for your whole human, especially at work to create transformational cultures. She identifies as a Choiceness Coach to empower each leader to reach their full potential. She is a Maverick Curator Engagement Lightkeeper of Exquisite Beings with a purpose to develop workforce engagement culture.
Ellysa holds a Bachelor of Science in general science with a philosophy minor from Fordham University. She received her Executive Education Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University in 2017. She also holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and Development from NYU SPS. She completed her SHRM-SCP certification in June 2022. She is a certified Leader Coach as of 2025. Ellysa became involved with disability inclusion after her own diagnosis in 2016. Working in HR, the salience of the disability experience becomes noticeable. During her decade career, she has been an advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace. She has been recognized locally as an Emerging Leader nominee and Athena Award nominee. Ellysa also serves as Human Resources Business Partner at Cone Health and is the 40 under 40 Trailblazer through Business North Carolina for 2025.
Current professional/business affiliations: SHRM National Member, RMSHRM Member and Workforce Development Director on their Board of Directors
Current community affiliations: Board Member of Piedmont Health Services, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce YPN Member and Programming Committee Volunteer