Who Is Ellen McNamara?| Biography
Ellen McNamara is an American television journalist and award-winning news anchor who works in Phoenix, Arizona. She currently co-anchors FOX 10 Xtra News at 7 p.m. and FOX 10 News at 10 p.m. on weeknights. She joined FOX 10 Phoenix in 2021 and brings more than two decades of local television experience.
Table of Contents
McNamara grew up in Boulder, Colorado, and Dallas, Texas, after her birth in Chicago. Her father, Bob McNamara, built a career as a CBS News correspondent. However, Ellen initially considered becoming a lawyer before discovering her passion for broadcast journalism.
She attended Texas Tech University and graduated summa cum laude with a political science degree and a Spanish minor. While studying there, she played defender for the Texas Tech women’s soccer team. Additionally, she earned Academic All-Big 12 recognition during her college years.
McNamara began her journalism career in Lubbock after completing an internship at KLBK. She later worked in Austin, Tampa, Minneapolis, and Kansas City. In 2015, she joined KCTV5 in Kansas City as a main anchor. She remained there until her move to FOX 10 Phoenix in 2021.
Throughout her career, Ellen has earned a regional Emmy Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award. Moreover, she has covered breaking news, politics, community issues, and regional stories. Her work has also included election coverage and special reports.
Outside television, McNamara enjoys distance running and has completed several marathons. She ran five consecutive Boston Marathons, including the 2013 race. Ellen finished about 30 minutes before the bombings near the finish line.
Ellen McNamara continues anchoring weekday evening newscasts for FOX 10 Phoenix. She lives in Central Phoenix with her husband, son Knox, and their Golden Retriever.
Ellen McNamara Age| How Old Is Ellen McNamara?
Ellen McNamara is approximately 43 to 44 years old as of 2026. Her exact birth date remains publicly undisclosed. However, information from her earlier career places her birth between July 1982 and July 1983. McNamara was born in Chicago, Illinois, before growing up in Boulder, Colorado, and Dallas, Texas. Moreover, her age reflects more than two decades of experience in local television journalism. She started working professionally after graduating from Texas Tech University in 2003. Ellen McNamara continues her broadcasting career at FOX 10 Phoenix. Her extensive experience has made her a familiar evening news anchor in Arizona.
Ellen McNamara Height | How Tall Is Ellen McNamara?
Ellen McNamara stands at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 meters) tall. Her height gives the FOX 10 Phoenix anchor a confident and professional on-screen presence. Moreover, McNamara has maintained an active lifestyle throughout her career. Before entering television journalism, she played soccer at Texas Tech University. She also developed a strong interest in long-distance running and completed several major marathons. Additionally, her athletic background has remained an important part of her personal life. At 5 feet 7 inches, Ellen McNamara has an average-to-tall stature for an American woman. She continues appearing regularly on FOX 10 Phoenix evening newscasts.
Ellen McNamara’s Ethnicity
Ellen McNamara’s ethnicity has not been publicly specified, although she is an American journalist born in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in Colorado and Texas, strengthening her connection to different parts of the United States. Her surname, McNamara, has Irish linguistic origins, but a surname alone cannot confirm personal ancestry. Therefore, describing her specifically as Irish American would require additional family information. Ellen comes from a journalism family, as her father, Bob McNamara, worked as a CBS News correspondent. Overall, Ellen McNamara holds American nationality, while details about her exact ethnic heritage remain largely undisclosed publicly.
Ellen McNamara Education
Ellen McNamara attended Texas Tech University, where she built a strong academic and athletic foundation. She graduated summa cum laude in December 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Additionally, she completed a minor in Spanish, which strengthened her communication skills. While studying at Texas Tech, McNamara also played women’s soccer for the Red Raiders.
She competed during the 2000 and 2001 seasons and balanced athletics with demanding coursework. Moreover, she earned First-Team Academic All-Big 12 honors during her sophomore year. McNamara initially considered pursuing a legal career after college. However, an internship with KLBK in Lubbock introduced her to television journalism. That experience helped shape her future career in broadcasting.
Ellen McNamara Husband | Is Ellen McNamara Married?
Ellen McNamara is married to Marcus DeVere, a business professional based in Phoenix, Arizona. Marcus works with Banker Insulation and has experience in sales and project management. He also has longstanding ties to the insulation industry through his family’s business background. Ellen and Marcus have built their family life around Phoenix while balancing demanding professional schedules. Additionally, the couple shares a son named Knox, whom they frequently prioritize outside work. Marcus has publicly celebrated important family milestones involving Ellen and their son. Meanwhile, Ellen continues her career as a FOX 10 Phoenix evening news anchor. The couple currently lives in Central Phoenix with Knox and their family dog. Together, Ellen and Marcus maintain strong connections with their Arizona community.
Ellen McNamara Children
Ellen McNamara has a son named Knox, whom she shares with her husband, Marcus DeVere. Ellen often describes motherhood as an important part of her life. Moreover, she enjoys spending her free time with Knox whenever her broadcasting schedule allows. McNamara has shared that Knox enjoys construction equipment, fire trucks, airplanes, and other large vehicles. The pair also enjoys swimming, visiting parks, and exploring different activities around Phoenix. Additionally, Ellen balances motherhood with her demanding role as a FOX 10 Phoenix evening anchor. Ellen, Marcus, and Knox live together in Central Phoenix, Arizona. Their household also includes a Golden Retriever. Above all, Ellen McNamara values quality family time while continuing her successful television journalism career.
Ellen McNamara Family | Parents and Siblings
Ellen McNamara comes from a family with strong ties to television journalism. Her father, Bob McNamara, worked as a longtime CBS News correspondent. He covered major national and international stories during his distinguished broadcasting career. Her mother, Jane McNamara, raised Ellen alongside her siblings while the family lived in several American cities. Additionally, Ellen has a sister named Elizabeth McNamara. Ellen returned to Minnesota for Elizabeth’s wedding after leaving KSTP for Kansas City. Growing up around journalism influenced Ellen’s understanding of news. However, she initially considered law before eventually following her father’s broadcasting path.
Ellen McNamara Career and FOX 10 Phoenix News Anchor Role
Ellen McNamara has built a television journalism career spanning more than two decades. She currently works as an evening anchor at FOX 10 Phoenix. McNamara joined the station in 2021 after several years in major local newsrooms. At FOX 10, she co-anchors FOX 10 Xtra News at 7 p.m. on weeknights. She also co-anchors FOX 10 News at 10 p.m. alongside Marc Martinez.
Additionally, McNamara contributes reporting on politics, crime, community issues, and major Arizona stories. Before moving to Phoenix, McNamara served as an evening anchor at the CBS affiliate in Kansas City. Earlier, she gained newsroom experience in Minneapolis, Tampa, Austin, and Lubbock. Therefore, each market helped strengthen her reporting, interviewing, and live broadcasting skills.
McNamara has received a regional Emmy Award and a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for her journalism. Her career also includes memorable breaking-news coverage following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Today, Ellen remains a prominent FOX 10 Phoenix journalist. She also appears in station programs covering major news and public-interest topics.
Ellen McNamara Awards
Ellen McNamara has earned major journalism awards during her more than two decades in television news. Her honors recognize strong reporting, storytelling, and commitment to local journalism. Moreover, her career has taken her through several competitive television markets before joining FOX 10 Phoenix.
Her notable awards and recognitions include:
- Regional Emmy Award – McNamara earned this honor for excellence in television journalism and broadcast storytelling.
- Regional Edward R. Murrow Award – This prestigious recognition highlights strong reporting and high professional journalism standards.
- First-Team Academic All-Big 12 Honors – McNamara received this recognition while studying and playing soccer at Texas Tech University.
- Summa Cum Laude Graduate – She completed her Texas Tech University degree with outstanding academic distinction.
Additionally, McNamara has handled major breaking news throughout her career. Her coverage has included elections, community issues, crime, and significant national stories. McNamara also reported following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing after completing the race herself. Today, she continues bringing her award-winning journalism experience to FOX 10 Phoenix as a weekday evening anchor.
Ellen McNamara Salary
Ellen McNamara earns an estimated $80,000 to $150,000 annually as of 2026. McNamara works as a weekday evening anchor at FOX 10 Phoenix, where she handles major newscasts and important local stories. She anchors the 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. broadcasts alongside other experienced journalists. Additionally, Ellen brings more than 20 years of television journalism experience to her current role. She previously worked in Kansas City, Minneapolis, Tampa, Austin, and Lubbock. Therefore, her experience, seniority, and prime-time responsibilities likely influence her overall compensation. Her employment package may also include benefits and contractual incentives. Ellen McNamara’s salary estimate reflects her long broadcasting career and prominent role at FOX 10 Phoenix.
Ellen McNamara Net Worth
Ellen McNamara’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $3 million as of 2026. Her primary income comes from her long career in television journalism and news anchoring. McNamara has worked in local television for more than two decades. Her career includes positions in Kansas City, Minneapolis, Tampa, Austin, and Lubbock. Additionally, she joined FOX 10 Phoenix in 2021 and currently anchors weekday evening newscasts. Furthermore, her years of senior-level broadcasting likely contribute significantly to her accumulated wealth. Ellen McNamara’s estimated net worth may reflect salary earnings, savings, investments, and other assets developed throughout her successful journalism career.
