Living the Cougar Spirit: Alumni Spotlights — Grace Wang Mellis

I remember the friends I made, several of whom I’m still in touch with many years later, like Lara Bisserier (now living in Copenhagen), Leslie Ann Agcaoili, and it’s so nice to see Sara Nafie and others around town. Learning to swim and earning my Red Cross lifesaving certificate were big milestones, as was learning to speak in public through chapel services, singing hymns, and playing sports.

Our field trip to Washington, D.C. in middle school was unforgettable, as was simply being on campus, the big eucalyptus tree still stands out in my memory. There are honestly too many moments to count.

The small class sizes meant I never got lost. I felt seen, encouraged, and confident that I could achieve whatever I wanted. Reading and speaking at chapel helped me develop strong public-speaking skills, which gave me the confidence to succeed at San Marino High School and later in college and beyond.

Our Washington, D.C. trip in middle school, led by our history teacher Mr. Nelson, sparked a lifelong desire to travel, learn, and see more of the world. I think I may even still have my Outstanding Graduate trophy at my parents’ home!

After Clairbourn, I attended San Marino High School and then Harvard University, where I studied biology and Chinese history. I lived abroad in Hong Kong on a Rotary Scholarship studying law and worked as a journalist, covering the Hong Kong handover and Taiwan’s first democratic presidential elections as a translator for The Washington Post.

I later earned my MBA from Harvard Business School and lived in London for nearly 15 years working in consulting and banking, including over a decade at J.P. Morgan. I’ve worked for CNN and CNBC, served as a public company CFO, chaired audit committees, helped companies IPO in the U.S. and Canada, and more recently have spent the past decade as an investor and advisor to startups in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.

Mrs. Sensenbach, my music and French teacher, instilled a love of the arts and languages. Mr. Nelson made history come alive, and Mr. Nafie was such a warm, welcoming presence, always greeting us in the mornings. I also appreciated the strong sports programs overseen by Mr. Paciorek. I felt supported by so many dedicated teachers.

I loved the balance between chapel and school and culture and learning about things I may not have been exposed to at any other school. 

The small class sizes and dedicated teachers were invaluable. I also appreciated the foundation of Christian Science. Learning the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and hymns, gave me a framework to understand and thoughtfully analyze religion more broadly and appreciate it on a deeper level.

Appreciate the small class sizes and the personal attention from teachers; it’s a gift that allows you to grow and thrive. Have fun, stay curious, and never stop learning.

My children attended Clairbourn summer school when they were younger, and I’m now connected to Clairbourn’s current Marketing & Communications Director Jeanette Zamora through National Charity League volunteer work. I was abroad for many years, but it’s been wonderful reconnecting and bumping into Clairbourn alumni since returning.

The beautiful campus, nurturing teachers and staff, and consistently small class sizes have always set Clairbourn apart. 

Clairbourn gave me the courage to be curious, to appreciate culture, and to broaden my imagination beyond California (and even beyond the East Coast and Washington, D.C.). I will always treasure the time I had at Clairbourn!

As a girl and now as a female leader, the emphasis on being well-rounded, strong in English, math, languages, music, and sports, was incredibly formative. I hope Clairbourn continues to nurture confident, curious, and capable students for generations to come.