Dr. Jamelle H. Ellis

President/Founder

 Dr. Jamelle H. Ellis has more than 20 years of broad experience in the environmental field, with engineering and science roles in academia, private, and public sectors focused on environmental exposures, human health impacts. She is a dedicated environmental scientist and conservationist, currently serving as the Senior Scientist for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP).

She is the founder of Empowerment Strategies, LLC, an environmental sustainability consulting firm in operation since 2018, and The SPARK Institute, a non-profit organization with the mission is to grow a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in underrepresented youth and help prepare future leaders in STEM careers. The SPARK Institute’s vision is to empower youth to join the next generation of leaders in STEM career fields by expanding their opportunities for SCHOLARSHIP, PURPOSE, ACHIEVEMENT, REACH, and KNOWLEDGE.

She earned her M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Science from Clemson University and her Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Ellis is a proud native of Charleston, SC. She currently resides in Blythewood, SC with her husband and best friend. They have three amazing young adult children who make her proud daily because of their character and love of life and the people they impact. Dr. Ellis believes in living life according to Colossians 3:23-25 and her (borrowed) motto is “Do it Scared!”.