USC Marshall School of Business

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. He also has held a full-time appointment as a professor in the Department of Marketing since 1997, and continues to teach the school’s freshman leadership colloquium class.

Prior to being appointed dean, Ellis was USC’s vice provost for globalization, responsible for building the USC name worldwide. At the USC Marshall School, he previously served as vice dean for external relations and as associate dean for undergraduate programs. From 1998 to 2003, he directed the Family Business Program, running seminars for families in business.

Ellis worked in the corporate world from 1970 to 1997. He was president and CEO of Porsche Design from 1985 to 1990. From 1990 to 1997, he was chairman and CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, an upscale home accessory retailer, as well as an owner/partner in six other companies.

Ellis was a member of the Young Presidents Organization for 14 years, during which time he served two terms as chairman of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter and one term as regional vice president, and for six years was a member of the International Board of Directors. He is also a past chairman of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

Ellis sits on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards and has addressed organizations around the world on business topics.

At USC in 2003, Ellis was honored with both the Teaching Has No Boundaries Award, co-sponsored by the university’s Center for Excellence in Teaching, and the Golden Apple Award, given by USC Marshall School students. In 2004, he received the USC Parents’ Association’s Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award.

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