Ellen leads strategic communications, coalition and partnership development, and storytelling initiatives that elevate the voice of America’s grazing lands stewards. Raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she developed a love for agriculture through weekends spent on her grandparents’ land, planting the seeds for a career dedicated to the intersection of communications and conservation.

Ellen previously served as the Executive Director with Louisiana GLCI, where she cultivated strong partnerships, expanded digital outreach, and helped highlight the value of managed grazing systems. She holds a Master’s degree in Agricultural and Environmental Education from the University of Georgia, where her research focused on rural health and leadership development. She was also the first student at LSU to earn a minor in Agricultural Communication alongside a degree in Mass Communication.

With experience in both grassroots and national roles, Ellen is a passionate advocate for farmer-led conservation, preservation of working lands, and rural community engagement. She is a certified Emergenetics facilitator and brings a strong foundation in leadership development, integrated digital marketing, and strategic messaging to her work in advancing the mission of NatGLC. She and her husband live on a small homestead in North Mississippi.

ellen@grazinglands.org