James M. Ellis

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.