Emerson Ellis 

Legal Administrative Assistant

Emerson provides administrative and project support to attorneys in the Asheville SELC office. His work mostly focuses on forest protection, clean water defense, and tribal sovereignty. He also responds to public inquiries about SELC’s work in western North Carolina and assists attorneys with the collection and review of public records. 

“SELC is the premier environmental organization in the South and serves the community that raised me,” said Emerson, who is from Durham, N.C. “SELC’s commitment to recognizing and addressing racial and economic disparities is especially important to me as a person of color raised in a majority minority area of North Carolina. This commitment to rectifying the disproportionate environmental harms faced by minority communities ensures that the most culturally diverse region of our country can thrive.” 

Emerson is most excited by his office’s efforts to increase understanding of and relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “SELC’s support of projects such as the Ela Dam Removal Project—that will result in a cultural reconnection to the Oconaluftee River—and the restoration of Clingmans Dome’s original name, Kuwohi, are important strides being taken against poor and wrongful land management practices.” 

A favorite destination for Emerson is the Linville Gorge Wilderness in Western North Carolina. “It has pristine hiking trails, waterfalls, and incredible views, my favorite being the one from Wiseman’s View,” he said. 

• Travis County District Attorney’s Office, legal secretary 
• Austin Community College, Advanced Technical Certification in Paralegal Studies  
• B.S., Appalachian State University