Lacy Ellis
Dean Lacy K. Ellis
Dean | School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences, Tiffin University
An accomplished academic leader and criminal justice professional with an accrued two decades of experience, Dean Lacy K. Ellis has been active at Tiffin University since 2009. An associate professor of criminal justice and chair of the Criminal Justice Department, as well as a previous program chair and internship coordinator, she was recently appointed dean of the School of Criminal Justice & Social Sciences. Among her various responsibilities, she primarily ensures these departments run efficiently; provides students with resources and assists the faculty in making them successful in the classroom and beyond; builds external relationships with the community to help students learn from real-world applications; and works closely with surrounding police departments and partners on grant opportunities, allowing students to partake in training. Over the years, she has been recognized with a Provost Award for the 2018-2019 academic year and as Leader of the Faculty between 2022 and 2024.
Prior to her career at Tiffin, Dr. Ellis excelled in law enforcement. She earned degrees in forensic psychology and corrections before entering the police academy, from which she emerged as an undercover agent and intelligence specialist, working on narcotics-type investigations, for the Medway Drug Enforcement Agency from 2006 to 2008. She subsequently served as the academic department director of criminal justice and paralegal at Brown Mackie College and a death investigator for the Wayne County Coroner’s Office from 2008 to 2017. In the midst of these positions, her former professors reached out to her about utilizing her experience to become an educator. She started as an adjunct professor and taught online classes until she developed a love for it.
In addition, Dr. Ellis has authored two major articles for major publications, “Policemoms: Perceptions of Motherhood and Policy in Ohio Police Organizations” for ProQuest and “Policemoms: Perceived Challenges Impacting Gender Equity in Policing” for the Journal of Ethics and Legal Issues. Outside of her primary field, she has been an assistant softball coach for four years, a religious education volunteer, and a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland since 2021. She has long been a dedicated member of the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives’ Association, the National Association for Professional Women, and a lifetime member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences since 2017.
In 2016, Dr. Ellis bolstered her education and credentials when she received a PhD in public policy and administration from Walden University.
Press Release
Marquis Who’s Who Honors Lacy K. Ellis, PhD, for Expertise in Criminal Justice and Higher Education
Lacy K. Ellis, PhD, is devoted to criminal justice as an academic administrator, professor, and law enforcement officer
WEST SALEM, OH, August 05, 2024 — Lacy K. Ellis, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Ellis has dedicated nearly 20 years to the field of criminal justice and higher education. In 2024, she was named the Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences at her alma mater, Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio. As the Dean, she ensures that the departments under her leadership run efficiently. She is committed to providing students with the necessary resources and qualified faculty to succeed in the classroom and beyond. One of her passions is to connect students to their chosen field in meaningful ways. Dr. Ellis also fosters partnerships within the community, ensuring that her students have the opportunity to experience real-world applications and have hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, she collaborates closely with surrounding police departments on grant opportunities, internship opportunities, and emergency planning and preparedness for the campus.
Prior to her Deanship, Dr. Ellis’s tenure at Tiffin University has included a variety of roles including Assistant Dean of Criminal Justice from 2018 to 2024, Graduate Department Chair for Criminal Justice and Security Studies from 2013 to 2018, Undergraduate Department Chair for the Center for Online Learning from 2011 to 2013, and Internship Coordinator for the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences from 2017 to 2021. Apart from her administrative appointments, she has worked her way through the ranks of academia from an Instructor of Criminal Justice, to an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and will be seeking promotion to full Professor in the Fall of 2024. She has held critical roles on accreditation committees, developed multiple programs and courses for the university, and was nominated by the faculty to serve as Faculty Chair from 2022 to 2024.
Dr. Ellis’s career extends beyond academia into law enforcement, where it began. She currently holds an active commission as a Special Deputy for Wayne County Sheriff’s Office since 2018. Previously, she was a Patrolman for the Shreve Police Department from 2009 to 2018. Dr. Ellis’s experience also includes working as a Death Investigator for the Wayne County Coroner’s Office between 2008 and 2017, an Academic Department Director of Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies at Brown Mackie College from 2008 to 2011, and an Undercover Narcotics Agent and Intelligence Specialist for Medway Drug Enforcement Agency between 2006 and 2008.
In preparation for her career, Dr. Ellis received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with double majors in Forensic Psychology and Corrections at Tiffin University in 2006. That same year, she completed the Ohio Basic Peace Officer Training Academy at the University of Akron. Subsequently, she garnered a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Justice Administration from Tiffin University in 2007 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University in 2016. Dr. Ellis holds several professional credentials, including an OPOTA certification, a federal law enforcement analytical training certificate from the Drug Enforcement Administration, and a certification as an A.L.I.C.E. instructor from Response Options. She has completed over a thousand hours of professional development and training in law enforcement and higher education to remain current in her field.
Dr. Ellis is a lifetime member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and has been involved with several other professional organizations, including the American Society for Public Administration, the U.S. Distance Learning Organization, the National Association for Professional Women, and the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association. In addition to her professional commitments, she conducts research focusing on the progression of the field of criminal justice, specifically, supporting gender equity in policing, PTS and officer wellness, and assessing critical issues within the field. She has contributed articles to scholarly/professional publications, such as the Journal of Ethics and Legal Issues, and ProQuest.
Dr. Ellis balances her professional commitments with active involvement in her community. She volunteers at animal shelters with her daughters, has led Girl Scout Troop #4110, has coached little league softball at Northwestern Elementary School since 2022, and has volunteered her services conducting ALICE and safety trainings for churches, daycares, schools, and businesses.