Ellen Malcolm

American activist (born 1947) Ellen MalcolmMalcolm in 2015Born (1947-02-02) February 2, 1947 (age 79)EducationHollins College (BA)George Washington University (MBA)OccupationActivistBoard member ofEMILY's List (founder) Ellen R. Malcolm (born February 2, 1947) is an American activist with a long career in American politics, particularly in political fundraising. She founded EMILY's List in 1985 and served as its president until 2010. Early life Malcolm's great-grandfather is A. Ward Ford, an IBM founder. Malcolm grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, the daughter of parents who met while working in the sales department at IBM. After her father died when she was 8 months old, she became the heir to an IBM fortune, which she was to inherit at age 21. Malcolm attended Montclair Kimberley Academy, graduating in the class of 1965. Upon entering Hollins College, an all women's school, in 1965 Malcolm says she was "apolitical" and didn't even realize the country was at war. She went to work for the campaign of Eugene McCarthy in 1968. McCarthy was a Democratic and anti-war senator for the state of Minnesota. After he won the popular vote in the Democratic presidential primary, Malcolm was eage