The longest-serving president of La Salle University, Brother Patrick Ellis served from 1977 to 1992, when he left to become president of Catholic University of America in Washington, his alma mater. Born Harry James Ellis Jr., in Baltimore, he joined the Institute of the Christian Brothers at 17. After graduating from Catholic University in 1951, his first assignment was as a teacher and guidance counselor at West Philadelphia Catholic High School, where he later became chair of the English department. Brother Patrick went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1960 he joined the English department at La Salle College, leaving two years later to become principal of La Salle-Immaculata High School in Miami, which focused on educating the children of Cuban refugees.
Returning to Philadelphia in 1964, he helped to create La Salle's highly regarded honors program. He received a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching the following year, and later served as director of development before beginning his 15-year presidency in 1977.
Brother Patrick's tenure as president was a time of significant growth at La Salle, whose campus nearly doubled in size. Described by the university as a talented and effective fund-raiser, he reorganized the university's development efforts. Under his leadership, La Salle opened Connelly Library, added graduate programs and built a new residence hall for 250 students, a 500-seat dining hall, a 75-unit townhouse complex and an all-weather track. La Salle was granted status as a university in 1984.
After leaving Catholic University in 1998, Brother Patrick went on to serve as director of development for the Baltimore District of the Christian Brothers until 2004. He died of acute leukemia at a nursing home for Christian Brothers in Lincroft, New Jersey.
In 1960 he joined the English department at La Salle College, leaving two years later to become principal of La Salle-Immaculata High School in Miami, which focused on educating the children of Cuban refugees.
Returning to Philadelphia in 1964, he helped to create La Salle's highly regarded honors program. He received a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching the following year, and later served as director of development before beginning his 15-year presidency in 1977.
Brother Patrick's tenure as president was a time of significant growth at La Salle, whose campus nearly doubled in size. Described by the university as a talented and effective fund-raiser, he reorganized the university's development efforts. Under his leadership, La Salle opened Connelly Library, added graduate programs and built a new residence hall for 250 students, a 500-seat dining hall, a 75-unit townhouse complex and an all-weather track. La Salle was granted status as a university in 1984.
After leaving Catholic University in 1998, Brother Patrick went on to serve as director of development for the Baltimore District of the Christian Brothers until 2004. He died of acute leukemia at a nursing home for Christian Brothers in Lincroft, New Jersey.
The longest-serving president of La Salle University, Brother Patrick Ellis served from 1977 to 1992, when he left to become president of Catholic University of America in Washington, his alma mater. Born Harry James Ellis Jr., in Baltimore, he joined the Institute of the Christian Brothers at 17. After graduating from Catholic University in 1951, his first assignment was as a teacher and guidance counselor at West Philadelphia Catholic High School, where he later became chair of the English department. Brother Patrick went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1960 he joined the English department at La Salle College, leaving two years later to become principal of La Salle-Immaculata High School in Miami, which focused on educating the children of Cuban refugees.
Returning to Philadelphia in 1964, he helped to create La Salle's highly regarded honors program. He received a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching the following year, and later served as director of development before beginning his 15-year presidency in 1977.
Brother Patrick's tenure as president was a time of significant growth at La Salle, whose campus nearly doubled in size. Described by the university as a talented and effective fund-raiser, he reorganized the university's development efforts. Under his leadership, La Salle opened Connelly Library, added graduate programs and built a new residence hall for 250 students, a 500-seat dining hall, a 75-unit townhouse complex and an all-weather track. La Salle was granted status as a university in 1984.
After leaving Catholic University in 1998, Brother Patrick went on to serve as director of development for the Baltimore District of the Christian Brothers until 2004. He died of acute leukemia at a nursing home for Christian Brothers in Lincroft, New Jersey.
In 1960 he joined the English department at La Salle College, leaving two years later to become principal of La Salle-Immaculata High School in Miami, which focused on educating the children of Cuban refugees.
Returning to Philadelphia in 1964, he helped to create La Salle's highly regarded honors program. He received a Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching the following year, and later served as director of development before beginning his 15-year presidency in 1977.
Brother Patrick's tenure as president was a time of significant growth at La Salle, whose campus nearly doubled in size. Described by the university as a talented and effective fund-raiser, he reorganized the university's development efforts. Under his leadership, La Salle opened Connelly Library, added graduate programs and built a new residence hall for 250 students, a 500-seat dining hall, a 75-unit townhouse complex and an all-weather track. La Salle was granted status as a university in 1984.
After leaving Catholic University in 1998, Brother Patrick went on to serve as director of development for the Baltimore District of the Christian Brothers until 2004. He died of acute leukemia at a nursing home for Christian Brothers in Lincroft, New Jersey.
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