Last Bell’s New Executive Director

New Executive Director, Ellen Jackson
New Board Chair, Donald Lawton
New Board Member, David Richter

Last year we joyfully celebrated our 10th anniversary of serving orphanage graduates in Zhytomyr. This year we’re seeing amazing ministry growth in all areas of Last Bell’s programming! With this, we recognize a pressing need to support this ministry through a vibrant, sustainable support base in the United States.

To that end, we’re doing some reorganizing here at home.

As Last Bell has grown, we’ve seen the need for an Executive Director who will provide vision and direction while supervising both our American and our Ukrainian leadership.

On May 1st, we welcomed Ellen Jackson into this role. She will remain as interim Executive Director for the next 18-24 months. We’re committed to readying Last Bell for the next level of leadership, community engagement, and service to our Ukrainian youth!

Formerly, as the Board Chair, Ellen had volunteered many hours per week on Last Bell work, especially fundraising, communications, and envisioning Last Bell’s future.

Both Megan Hershey and Andrey Pankeyev now answer directly to Ellen in her new role. Internally, this will help refine our organizational structure and operations. We’re confident you’ll see our growing capacity to support our staff, volunteers, and donors with excellence.

In the U.S., Megan will continue as U.S. Operations Director, forging relationships, overseeing U.S. volunteers, and managing administrative structure.

In Ukraine, Andrey will continue as Ministry Director, managing ministry programming and overseeing our 15+ Ukrainian staff.

Because Ellen is leaving her position as the Board Chair, Don Lawton has accepted that role.

Last but not least, we’re pleased to announce the addition of David Richter of Carmel, IN to the Last Bell board of directors. With administrative gifting and a devoted heart for young people, David is a welcome team member!

If you have any questions about our latest news, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your prayers and support of Last Bell Ministries – it truly could not exist without you!


Ellen Jackson with Yulia Sagaidachna on her visit to the States