Mary Ellen has a BFA from the UCLA Film School and Television and worked in educational, documentary, industrial, and independent film production in Los Angeles. She attended Humboldt State University interdisciplinary graduate program at the School of Natural Resources, focused-on ethology and wildlife management.

After migrating to Northern California, she produced and directed programming for a PBS affiliate; worked in advertising/public relations and was a marketing communications manager for a global technology company. She had her own consulting company creating and implementing  communication strategies for private companies and non-profit organizations.

Mary Ellen describes her persona as a ‘confirmed naturalist’. This includes a nine-year disturbance study on harbor seals resulting in the formation of the “Seals” project with Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary; board positions with several Audubon chapters; Vice-President of Audubon Canyon Ranch; and a volunteer work with California Naturalists, Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Sonoma County Master Gardeners and the River Otter Ecology Project.

Mary Ellen is retired in Sonoma County with her husband and just one cat for now.

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