MaryEllen joined the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in 1999.  She has held positions in the Migrant Education Department, Child Care and Development Local Planning Council, Instructional Technology Services and the Educational Leadership and Development Division.  In 2009, she provided significant contributions to establishing The Foundation @ FCOE with Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher as the philanthropic arm of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools.  MaryEllen was essential in establishing the organization’s governing documents, accounting functions, public relations, and fundraising campaigns.  In her new role as Program Coordinator for Community Engagement and Development, she will lead The Foundation @ FCOE as Executive Director.

Born and raised in Fresno, MaryEllen is enthusiastic about her role in garnering support for public schools. Her public education journey was rooted in Central Unified schools, ultimately graduating from Hoover High School in Fresno Unified.  MaryEllen obtained her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is also a proud mother to Coby and Bryce, who are graduates of Central Unified.

She was an Employee of the Month recipient in November 2009 and the 2011 recipient of the Administrative Professional of the Year Award.  In 2018, she contributed to the Foundation’s successful recognition for National Philanthropy Day as Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.  

MaryEllen has a heart for Fresno County and for making Fresno a better place for students to thrive in school and in life. Through her work, she strives to link community-minded individuals and businesses to the collective work of transforming educational opportunities for students by supporting education as a community responsibility.