Ellen Girardeau Kempler

Background
I am an award-winning writer of essays, opinion pieces, articles and poetry. In my 25-year career as a communications professional I directed marketing and public relations for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Canyon Foundation. A layoff inspired me to enroll in a poetry workshop in Ireland and launch my first website, Gold Boat Journeys (Creative Cultural Travel). Since then, I have organized trips around events such as writers' conferences, book and music festivals and literary anniversaries and holidays. I am the author of two poetry chapbooks: "Fire in My Head / Flame in My Heart: Poems for the Pyrocene" (Kelsay Books, 2025) and "Thirty Views of a Changing World' (Finishing Line Press, 2017).
Education
Certification, Amherst Writers & Artists Writing Group Leadership, 2012
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M.A., Mass Communications (with distinction), California State University, Northridge, 1995; Thesis: The Role and Practice of Public Relations and Marketing in Museums, California State University, Northridge, 1995
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B.A., Literature, University of California, Santa Barbara, College of Creative Studies, 1981
Professional Memberships
Poets & Writers
Poetry Foundation
Academy of American Poets
Amherst Writers & Artists
Third Street Writers
Little Free Library (proud proprietor of two little free libraries, established 2013 and 2018)
Community Involvement
Friends of the Laguna Beach Library Board Member, 2019-present
Usher and Merchandise sales, Laguna Playhouse and South Coast Repertory Theatre, 2002-present
Research Committee, Pageant of the Masters/Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach, 2007-present
Host to artists participating in the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, 1998-present
Mentor to high school girls at Write Girl Los Angeles, 2013
Judge, Alumni Awards, Iceland Writers Retreat, Reykjavik, Iceland, 2016
Boothsitter, Sawdust Art Festival, Laguna Beach, 2015-present
Judging
International Poetry Contest by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, a nonprofit organization promoting ocean conservation education, 2016-present
Laguna Beach Library Annual Poetry Contest, 2020-Present
Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific Urban Ocean Poetry Contest, 2019
Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award 2017, December 2016
Career Positions
Founder, Gold Boat Journeys (2010-Present): Offer services including tour and travel planning, freelance writing, creativity workshops, editing, social media, marketing, photography and communications.
Director of Communications, Laguna Canyon Foundation (2003-2010): Planned and implemented all public relations and marketing activities, including writing and editing all publications.
Communications Director, Laguna Art Museum (1998-2002): Supported the museum’s overall goals and objectives in fundraising, collections, exhibitions, education and recruitment through strategic communications management.
President, News Muse Communications (1995-1998): As founder of this public relations and marketing consulting company, provided strategic planning, research, editing, writing, media relations, advertising, event planning, sponsorship cultivation and budget management for a wide variety of educational and nonprofit clients.
Manager, Public Relations and Marketing, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1994-1995): Directed public relations and marketing efforts to support educational and research activities at this private, nonprofit institution.
Director, Public Relations; Assistant Director, Public Relations; Public Relations Coordinator, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (1987-1994)
Consulting
Copyeditor and Writer, Rancho Palos Verdes Land Conservancy quarterly, Open Spaces (2010-Present).
Writer and Editor, UCI 50th Anniversary commencement with President Barak Obama, 2012; Copyeditor, Impressions/Expressions, UCI Office of Student Affairs; Writer and Editor, UCI Parent Guide 2011.
Part-time Faculty, Business Writing, California State University, Fullerton, Department of Marketing and International Business, Fall 1998.
Panelist, American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 1995.