She received her Bacholors and Masters Degrees in Biology at Binghamton University in upstate New York. Ellen continued her graduate work in biology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. After 4 years, she decided to move to California and began teaching the following year. Until last year, Ellen also taught Human Biology classes at Delta Community College. She has been active in programs that encourage teachers to include hands-on and experimental science in their classroom. Ellen is also an avid runner and coaches cross country for West High School in Tracy, CA.