James M. Ellis

Assistant Professor, School of Social Work and Assistant Professor, Marsal Family School of Education

Dr. James M. Ellis’s research investigates relationships between education pipeline experiences and racial-ethnic and low-income student pathways to college enrollment and degree completion. His’ scholarship examines the nexus between college readiness program participation, developmental approaches to college readiness, social support from peers and adults and racism and discrimination in education settings. Dr. Ellis utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to carry out his research program and has methodological expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods and designs. He regularly collaborates with education practitioners to conduct his research.

He was a lead research investigator with the Finish Line Project a U.S. Department of Education First in the World grant. This research examined first-generation college student persistence, academic outcomes and participation in university retention programs at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. His future program of research includes examining the intersectionality of racial and socioeconomic identity and its influence on college persistence among Black and Latinx male undergraduate students.

Research Interests

K-20 education and career pathways of low income and racial minority students, education pipeline intervensions, racism and discrimination in secondary and postsecondary settings, program evaluation, and underrepresented students’ college preparation, access, and success

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Information

  • [email protected]

  • (734) 615-2913

  • 3772 SSWB
    University of Michigan
    School of Social Work
    1080 S. University Ave.
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

  • 2015 PhD Education (CSHPE)
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 2007 MSW Interpersonal Practice/Children & Youth
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 2006 BSW Social Work
    University of Washington, Seattle

Activities

Publications

Ellis, J., Williams, A., & Richards-Schuster, K. (2024). Promoting microaffirmations within a social work undergraduate program: Promises and challenges. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research.
Watkins, D. C., Brown, B. R., Abelson, J. M., & Ellis, J. (2023). First-Generation Black College Men and the Value of Cohort-Based Programs: Addressing Inequities Through the YBMen Project. Health promotion with adolescent boys and young men of colour: Global strategies for advancing research, policy, and practice in context. Springer: New York, NY.
Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Ellis, J., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). Older African American, Black Caribbean, and Non-Latino White Fictive Kin Relationships. Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 41(1), 1-32.
Gonzalez, O. B., Pimentel-Walker, A. P., Ellis J. M., Yoshihama, M., Usui, M., & Chang, S.-y. (2022). Participatory action research and multi-level perspectives of education pathways of Congolese refugee youth. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 28(3), 316–324.
Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Ellis, J. M., & Chatters, L. M. (2022). Church-based emotional support and negative interactions among older African American and Black Caribbeans. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.
Taylor, R. J., Skipper, A. D., Ellis, J. M., & Chatters, L. D. (2022). Older African American, Black Caribbean, and Non-Latino White Fictive Kin Relationships. In L. D. Chatters & R. J. Taylor (Eds.), Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 41(1), 1-32.
Ellis, J. M. & Helaire, L. J. (2022). Self-Efficacy, subjective norms, self-regulated learning: An application of the theory of planned behavior with GEAR UP students. Education and Urban Society.
Gonzalez Benson, O., Yoshihama, M., Ellis, J., Pimentel Walker, A., Usui, M. & Chang, S. (2022). Piloting participatory action research: Community as intermediary in education pathways of Congolese refugee youth. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 28(3), 316-324.
Demetriou, C., Ellis, J. M., Huerta-Bapat, C., & Powell, C. (2021). A little becomes a lot: Advancing a model of microaffirmations for student success. In J., Noble, J., Zeff, & A.E., Aguirre (Eds.), Building Bridges for Student Success: A Sourcebook for Colleges and Universities.
Zheng, H., Starks, B., Ellis, J., O’Brien, M., & Elliott, W. (2020). An examination of parental college expectations’ mediating role between children’s savings accounts and children’s educational attainment by income level. Sociology Mind, 10(3), 165-186.

Presentations

Year Description
2019 Byun, J. E., Ellis J.M., Demetriou, C.P., Panter, A. T. (2019, April). A Phenomenological Variant Ecological Systems Theory Approach to Understand Student-Faculty Relationships among Racial-Ethnic Male First-Generation College Students. Paper presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Kennesaw, GA.
2018 Ellis, J. M., & Powell, C. S. (2018, November). Small Acts, Big Impact: A Microaffirmations Workshop. The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
2018 Ellis, J. M., Powell, C., Huerta-Bapat, C., Demetriou, C. & Panter, A.T. (2018). First Generation Student Perspectives: Microaffirmations & Microaggressions. Paper presented at The 2018 College Board Southern Regional Forum, Orlando, FL.
2018 Ramirez, N., Midkiff, B., Ellis, J. M., Demetriou, C. P., & Panter, A. T. (2018, April). Choosing to Apply to Graduate School: A Study of First-Generation College Students. Paper to be presented American Educational Research Association (AERA), New York, New York.
2017 Ellis, J.M. (2017, November). Examining the Effects of Opportunity Gaps on Participation in a College Access Program among Black Adolescents. Paper presented at the 42nd Association for the Study of Higher Education Annual Meeting, Houston, TX.

Courses

Current & Future Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Fall 2026 801 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Social Problems and Social Work Today Ellis, James M. Fall 2026 001 01:00 pm 04:00 pm View Course

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Winter 2026 802 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Winter 2026 801 03:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Fall 2025 801 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Social Problems and Social Work Today Ellis, James M. Fall 2025 001 02:00 pm 03:30 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Fall 2024 802 10:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Social Problems and Social Work Today Ellis, James M. Fall 2024 001 02:00 pm 03:30 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Winter 2024 007 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Winter 2024 006 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course
Social Problems and Social Work Today Ellis, James M. Fall 2023 001 11:30 am 01:00 pm View Course
Program Evaluation and Applied Research Ellis, James M. Winter 2023 001 02:00 pm 05:00 pm View Course