ATLIS Announces the Christina Lewellen Fellowship Program

The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) Board of Directors is proud to announce the formal establishment of the Christina Lewellen Fellowship Program. This initiative honors the legacy of former President and CEO, Christina Lewellen, by investing in the next generation of technology leaders through financial support and unprecedented access to association governance.

In a shift from traditional retrospective awards, the Christina Lewellen Fellowship is designed as a career launchpad. It embodies Lewellen’s core philosophy of service beyond the job and her career-long passion for helping emerging professionals stretch their wings to reach their full potential within the independent school community.

"Christina’s tenure was defined by her ability to see potential in others that might have been overlooked," the ATLIS Board of Directors stated in the program’s founding proposal. "This fellowship ensures that the passion and philosophy she brought to our industry are passed on to future leaders, professionalizing the role of technology leaders as central to the school’s mission."

Beginning in 2027, the program will select up to two ATLIS members annually. Each recipient will receive a grant of up to $3,000 to be applied toward premier ATLIS-sponsored professional development programs, including:

• The ATLIS Leadership Institute

• Technology Leadership in Independent Schools (TLIS) Certification

• ATLIS Annual Conference registration and travel

Beyond financial support, the fellowship includes a unique element of ongoing leadership development beyond the program. This component ensures sustained career growth by granting recipients special invitations to engage with the association's governance. Recipients will be invited to attend ATLIS Board Meetings as observers, serve on high-impact task forces, and benefit from targeted networking with industry thought leaders.

The fellowship will be a competitive, application-based program. ATLIS is seeking aspiring or current leaders who demonstrate innovation, a commitment to service, and the high level of integrity associated with Lewellen's legacy.

Applications are scheduled to open in late 2026. The inaugural class of fellowship recipients will be selected by early 2027 to begin their professional development programs that calendar year.

See the full announcement at at the ATLIS 2026 Annual Conference

About ATLIS 

The Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS) is the only national professional organization dedicated to the needs of technology leaders in independent schools. With a diverse membership of more than 500 schools and 2,500 individual members, ATLIS provides professional development, networking, and resources to help technology leaders excel in their roles and drive institutional success.