Allegra Elson

Director of Training and Development, Vibrant Pittsburgh

Allegra B. Elson serves as Director of Training and Development with Vibrant Pittsburgh. She is responsible for the strategy, design, management and administration of Vibrant Pittsburgh’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) educational programming. Allegra’s extensive experience includes teaching, facilitation, project management, curriculum design and implementation for both nonprofit and for-profit industries. She taught English as Foreign Language in China, Indonesia, Italy, and Turkey. She taught Italian language and culture at the University of Pittsburgh, Kent State University, and Duquesne University. As a member of AmeriCorps, she served as an ESL (English as a Second Language) and ABE (Adult Basic Education) instructor. Allegra is embedded in the immigrant, refugee, and international communities as a member of the Immigrants & Internationals Advisory Council at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services along with co-chairing its LGBTQ+ subcommittee. She also serves on Mayor William Peduto’s Welcoming Pittsburgh Advisory Council. A native Pittsburgher, Allegra has a Master’s degree in Italian Language and Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and a TESOL Certificate from Teachers College, Columbia University. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and was named one of Pittsburgh’s 40 under 40 by Pittsburgh Magazine.