Monyett Lavera Ellington (maiden name Hall) was born in August 1935 and grew up in Denver, Colorado. She attended East High School in Denver, Colorado and began attending classes at the University of Denver in 1953, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (minor in Sociology) in 1969. In her oral history interview, she discusses growing up in Denver, attending Scott Methodist Church in Denver's Five Points Neighborhood, along with fellow congregant and future University of Denver (DU) alum and teaching fellow, noted African-American psychologist Dr. Asa Hilliard. Ms. Ellington discussses her decision to take college preparatory courses at East High School, which her school counselor discouraged her from, as it would make her "harder to employ." Despite this, according to Ms. Ellington, her community (especially her church) and family strongly supported her decision to take these classes and attend college, specifically the University of Denver." Ms. Ellington attended the University of Denver beginning in 1953 and graduated in 1969.