Some people always seem to get things done and exhibit passion for causes to help people and improve our world. Ellen Siegel, a resident at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, is one of those people. Through her indomitable spirit and infectious charm, she encourages others to join her fight for climate solutions.
When you meet Siegel, you immediately notice her warm, engaging smile and bright cheerful eyes, but once she begins to describe her life’s passion as a climate activist, you inexplicitly feel drawn to joining her. Her work is clearly aligned with what Ruth Bader Ginsburg once said,
“Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Siegel grew up as the eldest of five children. Known affectionately as their “junior mom,” she helped raise her younger siblings—babysitting, cooking, ironing and changing diapers. Her brother recalls she was “bossy,” but it was that same leadership instinct that guided her throughout her life. Though her siblings now live across the country, they remain close and bonded even more deeply while caring for their aging parents. Siegel’s background in finance often made her the family’s go-to advisor for financial matters.
Only one of her sisters has children, two daughters, now in their 30s and Siegel’s great-nephew, a 17-month-old boy, became a powerful motivator in her climate action work. “My grand-nephew, and now my grand-niece, are why I do what I do about climate issues,” she says. “I want them to have clean air and water and be able to play outside.” One of her nieces has asthma, whose experiences deepened Siegel’s understanding of how environmental conditions directly affect health and quality of life.
Siegel earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in social psychology from Goddard College. Early in her career, she served as a program director for the Girl Scout Councils in Philadelphia and Miami, where she developed educational curricula and embodied the Girl Scout mottos that still guide her life: “Be prepared” and “Leave a place better than you found it.”
After moving to Miami with her then-husband, who worked in IT, Siegel transitioned into financial services, beginning a 39-year career as a certified financial planner, specializing in insurance, investment management and financial planning. She retired in 2019.
At the same time, Siegel spent over 25 years volunteering with the National Park Service as an Everglades interpretive ranger, a Sierra Club trip ranger and an environmental education specialist. Later she earned an Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, or IFAS, Master Naturalist certificate from the University of Florida. That certificate was just another step in her mission for environmental advocacy.
Immersed in Florida’s ecosystems, she witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change—coral bleaching on the reefs where she once scuba-dived, coastal erosion and intensified flooding. These experiences, along with events like Hurricane Andrew and Miami’s worsening “rain bomb” flooding, convinced her that the time for action was now.
There was no single turning point in Siegel’s journey from finance to climate advocacy, just a growing awareness that she wanted to make a tangible difference for future generations. She describes her life as seemingly full of synchronicity, and she feels fortunate.
After completing training through the University of Miami’s climate education programs and hearing lectures from experts such as Harold Wanless, Ph.D., professor of geography and sustainable development at the University of Miami, Siegel began teaching. She developed and taught multi-week “Climate Conversations” courses through the University of Miami’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, later presented climate education sessions for Temple Beth Or (attended by American wildlife photographer Ron Magill and Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava) and helped establish climate literacy programming at the university.
Today, Siegel lives in Gainesville, Florida, where she calls herself a “climate migrant” after leaving Miami due to rising sea levels and worsening conditions. She has audited ecology and climate science courses at the University of Florida. She credits Stephen Mulkey, Ph.D., lecturer with UF Department of Biology, with teaching the ability to share data with everyday people and is currently studying circular economy.
Siegel serves as a Gainesville representative and climate speaker specialist for The CLEO Institute, helping students and communities communicate climate issues effectively. Through the Gulf Scholars Project (administered by UF’s Bob Graham Center), she supports a youth advisory group including interfaith and intergenerational climate change education and communication initiatives. The program empowers UF undergraduate students to develop their communication skills, collaborate with faith communities and learn how to effectively present their ideas. She also contributes to environmental programs presented at Oak Hammock, where she praises the staff and administrative support as “gracious beyond words.”
In addition, Siegel is actively involved in her temple and serves as the active member of Temple Shir Shalom Tikkun Olam Team, whose name means repair the world. That group supports sustainable practices and encourages ways to mitigate environmental challenges.
Siegel’s guiding philosophy comes from the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook: “A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency.”
Now, in retirement, Siegel has found her calling where passion meets purpose: educating others about climate change, fostering community action and ensuring a livable planet for the generations to come. As she often says, quoting climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, “;Saving us’” is the most important work there is.”
The message Siegel wants to leave is to encourage everyone to get involved as an environmental advocate and do what you can to encourage using clean energy to save our planet for future generations.