Question: why did alex and ellen break up on family ties

title: Alex P. Keaton
text: Alex receives a scholarship to fictional Leland University , which is located close enough for Alex to continue to live at home and commute . Keaton excels at Leland University and teaches an economics course as a teaching assistant . Alex also holds a disdain for nearby Grant College ( which Mallory later attends ) , and goes as far as mocking their classes . While attending Leland , he has two serious girlfriends . His first was artist / feminist , Ellen Reed ( Tracy Pollan , whom Fox later married ) . After they break up , Keaton pursues a liberal psychology student with feminist leanings , Lauren Miller , who was played by Courteney Cox . This relationship ends when he has an affair with music major Martie Brodie ( played by Jane Adams ) while Lauren is out of town . After graduation , Alex accepts a job on Wall Street .