Chrissie Wais is the Founder and CEO of Above the Tree Line, which she launched after 14 years serving in senior development roles in higher education advancement and non-profits.

Above the Tree Line is built upon a simple philosophy that Chrissie has applied successfully throughout her career: cut through distractions and prioritize high return activities to see clearly and achieve results.

Prior to launching Above the Tree Line, Chrissie served as the Assistant Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at George Washington University Law School. She came to GW Law from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she served as the Assistant Dean of Alumni Engagement and Development for the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. Prior to UMass, she served for nine years in increasingly complex major donor centered roles at Cornell University. 

Chrissie has helped philanthropists invest millions of dollars in organizations and initiatives they care about. She has a strong background in major and principal giving, building high performing teams in the face of tight labor market competition, pipeline development, annual giving, donor stewardship, volunteer and board management, database administration, and data driven decision making. Prior to launching her development career, Chrissie also spent several years in human capital management at Goldman Sachs, in New York.

She earned a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations, with concentrations in Gender Studies and French, and an MBA from Cornell University. 

Chrissie is an avid hiker who has summited the 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks. She also enjoys slow running with her dog, Flanders, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from any form of winter recreation in the northern latitudes.