Prior to his responsibilities at BSU, Professor Ellis served two decades as a vice president with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the premier trade association of the nation's free-over-the-air broadcast radio and television stations. Following his retirement from the NAB in 2004, he founded and operated Dwight Ellis & Associates, a global media business and workforce development consultancy.

Professor Ellis also served as chief of staff for retired Congresswoman Cardiss Collins (D-IL); founder and
management of a public relations and advertising consulting firm; and five years as an NBC radio and television host. A past president of the Capital Press Club, Professor Ellis is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists; an advisory board member of the National Press Foundation; a member of the Business Advisory Council of the Organization of Chinese Americans; a former newspaper media columnist for several African American newspapers; and former member of the George Foster Peabody Awards Board.

Professor Ellis has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions including: the 2003 President's Medal from Southern Connecticut State University; the 2002 "Master Communicator Award" from the National Black Media Coalition; the "Golden Mike Award" from the Black Broadcasters Alliance for outstanding contributions over the years to broadcasting; the "Award for Distinguished Leadership In Communications" presented by National University's Board of Trustees; 1987 "Leadership In Communications Award" presented by the Dean of Howard University's School of Communications; and the "International Achievement Award" presented by the National Association of Media Women for his "superior contributions" in the U.S. and Canada.

Professor Ellis earned a B.S. degree from the District of Columbia Teachers College, currently the University of District of Columbia, and holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the George Mason University School of Law.