Mary Ellen Klee has been involved with Esalen Institute since 1965 and has served as a trustee since the mid-80s. Her particular interests have been with the Citizen Diplomacy work of  Esalen's Center for Theory & Research as done through Esalen's former Soviet-American Exchange Program, now the Russian American Partnership, and the International Abrahamic Network. She has been a supporter of these and other CTR programs, traveling to Russia, Israel, and Palestine with them.

Mary Ellen graduated with a B.A. from Radcliffe College. She has been a student and teacher of the Arica method and practice developed by Oscar Ichazo for over 46 years. An acupuncturist since 1978 with a practice in Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades, CA, she also has maintained a home in Big Sur for over 50 years.