IUAA Student Fellow Kaitlin Scott sits down with Ellis Dumas III, BA ’09, who shares his journey to IU Bloomington, experience with the Groups Scholars Program, and work with the Groups Alumni Association. Ellis expresses his enthusiasm for the Groups Program expanding to the IU Northwest campus, saying, “We try to make sure that we are an active and engaging board that is going to benefit the current class and future classes to come.”

After IU, Ellis began his career at IU’s Office of Student Financial Assistance and later transitioned to a career with the State of Indiana, where he worked for 14 years. He served as a Family Case Manager for Department of Child Services and gradually worked his way up to become the Department’s Regional Manager for Region 1, which is the second largest region in the state and employs around 300 people. Since his time at the State, Ellis has served as a Chief Operating Officer for a hospital. He is currently the Vice President of Programs & Outcomes for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana.

When asked what inspired him to take on a leadership role in the Groups Alumni Association, Ellis remarked: “I do it simply because someone did it for me.”