Elis Shin

Elis Shin has been an Open House New Yorker since 2012. She first got involved as a volunteer and was drawn by our mission’s optimism—opening doors is one of the best ways to help New Yorkers understand why the city looks and feels the way it does and to empower them to reshape it. Elis rejoined the staff team in 2024. She is now Deputy Director and the lead producer of OHNY Weekend. She is also the current curator of Open House Worldwide and co-curated an international festival about innovative housing with writer George Kafka in 2022. Elis has a decade of experience in cultural programming, design research, and working with nonprofits and architecture practices in New York and around the world. A social impact strategist, she applies systems thinking and strategic design to deliver impactful programs, strengthen operations, and meet ambitious fundraising goals. She holds an MS in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons School of Design, where she received Departmental Honors for her capstone on chronoworking, and a BA in Metropolitan Studies with High Honors from New York University.