Dr. Ellis also received a master's degree from WMU and a doctorate from Michigan State University. He began his career as a public school teacher, coach, and principal.
He returned to Western in 1965 as director of student financial aid and was named secretary of the Board of Trustees three years later.
He was named a program director in educations for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1972 and was considered a pioneer in fostering foundation programming in the areas of philanthropy and volunteerism.