Dr. Keith Ellis

Facilitator

Dr. Keith Ellis has been recognized nationally as a leader and expert in Hazing Prevention, risk management education, and commitment to safe and healthy student services and experiences. Keith brings passion to the topic of prevention education and community change and has led workshops for students and professionals across the United States. Keith joined the faculty of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Prevention in 2010 and uses this platform to engage participants in conversations of research, partnership, policy development, and the application of prevention science to the topic of hazing. Keith’s goal in this work is to help students, faculty, and staff create environments where each party can come together in partnership and shared responsibility.

Keith graduated from the University of Memphis in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and received his Master’s in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas before moving to the University of Kentucky to be the Assistant Director of Student Involvement from 2005-2008. Keith became the Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Kentucky in 2008 where he worked directly with the fraternity and sorority community to create change and advance the fraternal movement. In 2010, Keith assumed responsibility for the Students of Concern and Behavior Intervention Team at the University of Kentucky, advancing the work of student safety across many platforms including Mental Health, Physical Safety and Student Conduct. In 2011 Keith moved on to become the Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of South Carolina where he was responsible for the on-going risk reduction education of fraternities and sororities and challenged the community to uphold their fraternal values during a period of crisis that received national attention. In 2013, Keith became the Director of Residence Life at the University of South Carolina integrating the work of student leadership, student conduct, residential education, behavior intervention, crisis management, prevention education, Title IX, and staff development. Beginning in 2020, Keith accepted a position at the University of Illinois Chicago as Visiting Assistant Dean of Students where he oversees the student conduct process for the University and works directly with student organizations. In 2018, Keith completed his Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky with a research focus on the examination of hazing case law as applied between 1980-2013. 

Keith is the father of a beautiful daughter Amelia, husband to an amazing wife Nichole, and spends his free time pursuing various endurance events (marathons, triathlons, and obstacle course races) through his connections with his community and F3 Nation. Keith continues to stay connected to the fraternity world as a volunteer for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.