DETROIT – The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition has honored Darin Ellis, Wayne State University’s associate provost for academic programs and associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, with its Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award.

Ellis was one of two honorees recognized in the large universities category last month at the center’s 43rd annual conference on the first-year experience, held in Seattle, Wash.

The center – based at the University of South Carolina – honors college faculty, administrators, staff members and students annually for their work on behalf of first-year students and the impact their efforts make on the students and cultures of their institutions. The awards are given in collaboration with Penguin Random House Publishing.

“It is an honor to have been nominated and supported by my colleagues and to be recognized by the award committee,” said Ellis. “I plan to continue working with my wonderful team in devoting time and effort to improving the experience and outcomes for our first-year students.”  

In his nomination by Wayne State, it was noted that Ellis has used his leadership position at the university over the last decade to champion the cause of first-year students.

“Starting with his work in his home College of Engineering and now spanning the entire university in his current role, Dr. Ellis’ leadership and operational effectiveness have enabled transformational change in the student experience. As a result of his efforts, first-year students have better information to make academic decisions, more avenues for intellectual pursuit in our general education program, more opportunities for synergistic intellectual engagement in communities like first-year interest groups, and equitable improvements in student success at the course and program level.”

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Lauzon Clabo said, “The evidence is clear that when students – especially first-generation students – have a positive first-year experience, retention rates increase and students are more likely to persist and graduate. The work Darin and his team are doing every day will bear fruit for our students and the broader university community long into the future.”

Ellis was a first-year student in 1985 at GMI Engineering & Management Institute, now known as Kettering University, where he graduated with a bachelor of science majoring in industrial engineering. Ellis has spent his entire career at Wayne State and will mark 30 years of service this summer.