Meet the Vice President

Shannon Ellis was appointed Vice President for Student Services in 1998. Reporting directly to the president, Ellis serves as lead administrative officer and provides leadership for the Division of Student Services, which includes enrollment services, student life services and student success services.

Prior to her position at the University, Ellis served as Dean of Student and Academic Support Services at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., from 1990-98. In 1988-90, she served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs/Director of Campus Life at the University of Southern California; Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs at USC,1985-88; Associate Director, Office for Residential Life at USC, 1983-85; Director of Greek Affairs, Office for Residential Life at USC, 1980-83. She began her career in academia as Director of Greek Affairs and Assistant Dean in the Dean of Students Office at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, from 1977-1980.

Ellis has received two Fulbright awards in her career for studies in Germany and in Japan. She has served as president of her national professional association, the National Association for Student Personnel Administration (NASPA) and is active on several editorial and foundation boards. She has been an Evaluator since 2004 for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. She has presented hundreds of keynotes and workshops and has published numerous articles and chapters in several professional journals and books. Her ongoing research focuses on organizational transformation and the role of student services in tomorrow's college and university. Ellis received her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in Higher Education and Law, her master's degree at the University of Massachusetts in Public Administration and her B.S. degree from the University of Illinois in Journalism.