University Park, IL,
21
June
2017
|
17:06 PM
America/Chicago

Farewell to Cherished Faculty Member Cyrus Ellis

Governors State University has lost a beloved member of its community. Dr. Cyrus M. Ellis, full-time faculty member in the Division of Psychology and Counseling in the College of Education, passed away on Tuesday morning.

Dr. Ellis—or Doc E, as he liked to be called—was known for his laughter, his passion for social justice, and his devotion to teaching his students. On a recent trip to Springfield where he advocated for funding for GSU and other public colleges and universities, he said, "There are times when you must advocate for what is right. And I'm here to advocate on behalf of not only my students but the ones who are coming. I don’t even know who they are yet, but I'm here, too, for the ones who are coming and want to know what the word is about our counseling program that I’ve been a part of for 15 years. We want to preserve that for the next generation in perpetuance."

Dr. Ellis was a proud member of the Army and Army Reserve. He graduated from Rider University with his bachelor's and master’s degrees and earned his Ph.D. at University of Virginia. Dr. Ellis came to GSU in 2002 and was awarded tenure in 2007. He has left an indelible mark on the GSU Counseling program and the field of Counselor Education and Supervision.

On behalf of GSU, we offer condolences to all of Dr. Ellis's family, friends, students, and colleagues. Details of arrangements will be shared with the university community when they become available.