James Ellis

James G. Ellis was appointed dean of the USC Marshall School of Business and holder of the Robert R. Dockson Dean’s Chair in Business Administration in April 2007.

Ellis previously served in the USC Office of the Provost where, as vice provost for globalization, he worked closely with faculty and deans to develop the university’s globalization initiative, which encompasses instructional, service and research programs.

He also was charged with expanding USC’s international presence, increasing its leadership role in the Association of Pacific Rim Universities and overseeing the university’s foreign offices. In addition, Ellis was instrumental in establishing the USC U.S./China Institute.

A faculty member in the USC Marshall School of Business since 1997, Ellis is a highly rated teacher. He has been named professor of the year by numerous student organizations, won the golden Apple Professor of the Year Award in USC Marshall’s undergraduate program and received the Teaching Has No Boundaries Award from the USC faculty. He also has been an active member of the USC Marshall administrative team, serving as vice dean for external relations and associate dean of undergraduate business programs.

Prior to joining USC, Ellis was with the Broadway Department Stores from 1970 to 1983, rising to the position of vice president for merchandising and developing products around the world. From 1985 to 1990, he served as president and chief executive officer of American Porsche Design. He also has been involved in a variety of entrepreneurial ventures and is a founding director of Professional Business Bank in Pasadena and a director of the Fixed Income Funds of The Capital Group in Los Angeles.

Ellis holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and a B.B.A. from the University of New Mexico.