Young Alumni Award
Ebone Ellis, deputy director for Spartanburg County Department of Social Services, was introduced to her future career while a psychology major at Upstate.
She was inspired by a DSS attorney who spoke to her child advocacy studies class about the agency’s framework and case management. Former CAS director Lynn McMillan also encouraged her interest.
After earning her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in child advocacy, Ellis was hired at DSS. She began as a case manager and worked her way up to her current role, in which she oversees the child welfare division in the county.
Ellis believes she was called to serve.
She enjoys being a part of the lives of those she helps and watching her staff grow into their passions.
“If I’m able to help one person change that cycle, or even a family, or even one of my staff to have that mindset of pouring into people and helping at least one person, that’s the impact I really want to make,” Ellis says.
Since becoming director, she’s helped other Spartans. She regularly communicates with Jodie Martin, director of the Center for Child Advocacy Studies, and accepts interns from Upstate as well as hiring them.