He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre performance from the University at Buffalo in 2007 and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Purdue University in 2010.
CINCINNATI, OH, January 09, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Matthew David Gellin, MFA, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Gellin is a distinguished professional with over 20 years of experience in the theatrical and nonprofit sectors. As the founder, executive artistic director and chief executive officer of American Legacy Theatre (ALT) in Cincinnati, he has been instrumental in shaping the organization's mission to create a more accessible and equitable community. His role involves community work with children and adults, ensuring diversified artistic programming, making these programs replicable nationally, maintaining quality and interfacing with public sector leaders. Mr. Gellin founded ALT in 2016, at which point he served as a volunteer leader to ensure that team members and contractors received adequate compensation. In 2021, he committed himself to ALT full-time, and the organization has since served as a transformational figure in the Cincinnati arts community.
Prior to allocating his time fully to ALT, Mr. Gellin was a major gift officer at the local Feeding America and United Way in Cincinnati from 2016 to 2021, demonstrating his continued commitment and drive for social justice and systemic change. Likewise, he has been a director in major markets across the United States, ranging from large production houses to local storefront theatres. In this regard, he also boasts professional experience with equity and nonequity houses across the nation, including in New York, Chicago and California. Notably, he demonstrates a passion for legacy-building by mentoring the next generation of artists at performing arts high schools. His first foray into the nonprofit profession was during his affiliation with the American Massage Therapy Association, thereby introducing him to the appeal of instituting systemic change and creating an equitable future that benefits all walks of life.
Outside of the nonprofit and artistic spheres, Mr. Gellin previously thrived at the helm of a national sales office in the for-profit sector and excelled in the field of education as an instructor at his alma mater, Purdue University. These experiences, coupled with his past tenures in government affairs and the for-profit industry, culminated in his present success at ALT, through which he has made a resounding impact on the field to enact social change.
Impressively, Mr. Gellin collaborated with UNESCO in Romania and was a U.S. representative for foreign business affairs in the People's Republic of China; both showcased his expertise as a representation of the United States in the international realms of theatre and business. Moreover, he was afforded the opportunity to present at the AITU-IUTA IX World Congress in 2012, where he discussed his theories on innovations in theatrical directing. A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), he currently serves on the board of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, having previously lent his expertise to the board of the Greater Cincinnati AFP for seven years as past president, immediate past president and president.
Interested in theatre from a formative age, Mr. Gellin graduated from the Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute with the highest honors in 2003. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre performance from the University at Buffalo in 2007 and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Purdue University in 2010. Additionally, he has held a certified fundraising executive designation from CFRE International since 2022.
As a testament to his success and dedication to theatre, Mr. Gellin has accepted several accolades, including being named among Cincinnati's Business Courier's "40 Under 40" list, receiving the Promising Artist of the 21st Century Award from the International Arts and Cultural Exchange, and earning the Teamwork Observant Award. He attributes his success to the invaluable support from his family, mentors, professional network and community. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining genuine curiosity and a deep appreciation for others, which have been pivotal in his career journey.
Over the next several years, Mr. Gellin aims to drive ALT's growth and sustainability across multiple markets, significantly magnifying its impact. Ultimately, he intends to continue leveraging ALT for social progress in the arts community in and around the Cincinnati area.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #