In 2010, Ellen Moyer capped 50 years of public service as a community activist and elected Alderman and Mayor in the City of Annapolis, Maryland.
Selected three times as one of the top 100 women in the State of Maryland, Ellen has been recognized as a leader and innovator and for initiatives to enhance community quality of life. Among her numerous awards are: recognition by Pennsylvania State University Board of Trustees as an outstanding alumni; the naming of the Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park on Back Creek in recognition of environmental action; and the City’s first Living Landmarks Award for leadership and achievements in preserving and enhancing the community’s cultural heritage.
During her tenure as an elected official and community leader she moved the City of Annapolis to embrace an environmental ethic that culminated in 2009 with an International Livable City Award. Through her initiatives the City obtained a 42% urban tree canopy; a unique urban public land trust; an award-winning Parks and Paths for People Plan with 20 street-end parks; Greenscape, an annual beautification volunteer program; an aggressive storm water management program; the first municipal watershed plan in Maryland; and an urban living environmental classroom park.
In the 1970's, as Executive Director for the Maryland Commission for Women, she helped to organize Maryland's domestic abuse program and achieve credit status for women.
Ellen served five Governors on a variety of boards and commissions including the State Board of Education, the State Racing Commission and the Local Government Advisory Council to the Chesapeake Bay Program. As part of a national program, she served on the Maryland State team to develop opportunity for gifted and talented students in the public education system.
She is a co- founder of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre which just celebrated its 45th season. Murals, art work and historic panels in Annapolis are a result of her initiative establishing the Art in Public Places Commission.
Ellen Moyer serves on a national committee dedicated to improving resilience for communities experiencing natural and manmade disasters. She is a member of a FEMA Core Group to bring the ‘whole community approach’ to emergency management. Ellen also participates in The Climate Project led by Al Gore to identify solutions and actions related to climate change. She volunteers time with the Society of Distinguished Alumni at Penn State as a mentor and to raise scholarship money for the Honors program. She has served on two commissions sponsored by Preservation Action to strengthen Historic Preservation at the Federal level.
Currently Ellen is engaged in writing, speaking and is hosting a radio show in Annapolis, MD on current events. She has participated in symposiums on local and international concerns. Her articles on the environment, history and horse-racing have appeared in local magazines.
