Ellen has served as the part-time
student minister of our congregation since January of 2008. She grew up
Unitarian Universalist in Milford , New Hampshire
. She fondly remembers her years of Sunday school and youth group and is deeply
appreciative of the religious foundation she received. Ellen graduated
from Carleton College in Northfield , Minnesota
with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She is now a student at Earlham
School of Religion in Richmond , Indiana ,
working on her master’s of divinity.
Ellen Carvill-Ziemer
Before entering seminary, Ellen
worked as an outdoor educator and taught computer science, engineering, and
geology. As an educator, Ellen sees learning through the lens of experiential
education where all learning is a chance to explore both ourselves and the
world, learning the most by what we do and experience. She brings this lens to
her work in ministry seeing all of life as part of our education, or the
“continual unfolding of the soul” in the words of Unitarian forefather William
Ellery Channing.
Before seminary Ellen was active
in a number of Unitarian Universalist churches
and volunteered on a range of district and congregational committees. She now
serves as the Ohio Meadville District Young Adult and Campus Ministry
Consultant working with congregations and larger Unitarian Universalist
communities to create connections and community for young adults ages 18-34.
Ellen loves outdoor adventures,
particularly backcountry hiking and white water canoeing. She also enjoys her
garden and is particularly fond of experiments including her rain barrels,
drip irrigation, and weed-free mulch methods. She lives in Kent with her
partner Melissa, her two nieces Anna and Aliyah who are living with them for
the year, and two active dogs Migo and Zoey.