Professor Ellison was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. He attended Yale University, majoring in music, but soon discovered his love for psychology. He went on to earn a BA in Psychology with a minor in Religion and Philosophy. He earned his Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola University Chicago. The MAPC program explored the biggest questions that people ask themselves about their place in the universe, and this turned out to his perfect field of study.
In each course, Professor Ellison teaches three things at once. The subject matter, critical thinking, and the joy of learning. If the learning is not fun, we need to change. He encourages students to seek non-usual experiences to expand their world. He works with field research and other ways of applying knowledge to real life. And he shapes each class to fit the strengths and creativity of that particular group of students.