Chaplain Ylisse C. Bess (she/they) serves as College Chaplain and Christian Life Coordinator at Wellesley College. Ylisse's ecumenical background includes roots in the Church of God in Christ, African Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, and American Baptist Churches. They continued their spiritual growth through their Methodist seminary education and have served as an Associate Minister in a UCC congregation. They earned their bachelor's degree in sociology and religious studies from Gonzaga University, their M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology, and became a Board Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.

Ylisse joins the ORSL staff after serving as Program Director for the Trauma Responsive Congregations Grant at Boston University School of Theology. As adjunct faculty at BU School of Theology, Ylisse takes a trauma-responsive approach to team teaching current seminary students, and continuing education for clergy through courses such as "Sustaining Spirits While Empires Crumble," and "Spiritual Care for the Nonreligious." 

Ylisse comes to Wellesley with 5 five years of experience as an Intensive Care Unit chaplain at level 1 trauma centers in Boston, including multifaith pastoral care and counseling, as well as crisis response.

Ylisse draws on years of experience leading multifaith religious/spiritual services, providing opportunities for reflection, contemplative practice, education, and leading retreats. She has a passion for developing creative programming for spiritual nourishment and growth, advocating for reproductive justice, and freeing our community members from immigration jail through local community organizing.

College is an opportunity to explore, detangle, and rebuild a world for one’s self and community - Ylisse is excited to be part of that journey with Wellesley students. Ylisse hopes to support Wellesley students as they make meaning of the shifts in their lives - from their joy, grief, faith, activism, extracurricular activities, and everything in between.

In her free time, Ylisse enjoys roller skating and adventures with her dog Paprika-Ylisse!