Ellis G. Dumas III, a native of Gary, Indiana, was born and raised in a community that would become the backdrop for his life's dedication to service and leadership.He graduated from West Side High School before embarking on an academic journey at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He pursued a dual degree in Criminal Justice and African-American and African Diaspora Studies. His time at IU was marked by numerous accolades, including Greek Male of the Year and the Dr. King “Bridging the Gap” award recipient. He joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Upon completing his studies at IU, Ellis G. Dumas embarked on a career in civil services. In 2009, Ellis returned to Northwest Indiana, where he commenced his career with the Indiana Department of Child Services as a Family Case Manager. It was in this role that Ellis discovered his calling — to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in need.
Ellis earned his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012, further enhancing his leadership skills. His unwavering dedication and hard work led to a series of promotions within DCS. His career progression continued as he assumed the role of Supervisor in the assessment division for Lake County and Division Manager in December 2012. In January 2014, he achieved the position of Deputy Director of Region 1, Lake County, and in 2016, he was selected as the Regional Manager of Region 1, Lake County, overseeing the second-largest region in the state.
Beyond his work with the State of Indiana, Ellis served as Chief Operating Officer of two behavioral health hospitals, one in Texas and another in Indiana. His passion for serving youth remained undiminished as he later accepted the position of Vice-President of Programs & Outcomes for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. Ellis was appointed 2024 as Chief of Staff for the City of Gary, IN under the leadership of Eddie Melton, Mayor.
Ellis also dedicates time and energy to the community. In 2018, he was appointed to the IU College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Board, where he continued to give back through service. Ellis was an active member of the Gary branch of the NAACP and a NAACP Next Gen Graduate in 2018. He served as the first vice-president for the Gary branch and sat on the executive board, contributing to important civil rights initiatives.
Ellis is an esteemed member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Christopher Robinson Sr. He has served as Chief of Operations at New Hope since 2015 and was consecrated to the position of Associate Pastor in 2017. Ellis is guided by the principles of servant leadership, modeling his life after John Maxwell's ideals.
Across his career, Ellis G. Dumas earned The Times “Top 20 Under 40” award, the Indiana University 20 Under 40 award, the Journey Fellow Title, and the Purdue Northwest Minority Leadership Achievement Award. Most recently, Ellis received the Exemplar Alumni Award from the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center at Indiana University and the Distinguished Alumni Award – National & Global from Indiana Wesleyan University. Amidst his professional and community accomplishments, Ellis treasures his most precious achievements: his loving and supportive wife, Jervai, whom he met at IU, and their four children — Ellis IV, Jaci, Jamie, and Julie. His dedication to his family is a testament to his character and values.