SPS Stories
Alumni Spotlight
Sabrina Ellis
Class of 2006
BS in Information Systems Management
Some Alums Always Return to NYU SPS
Fast Facts
- First earned an associate’s degree from NYU SPS in 2001, which she earned while working full-time
- As the Chief Human Resource Officer at NYU, she is pursuing a BS in Information Systems Management
- Earned the SPS Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022
<p><span class="p-body">As a triple alum of NYU SPS, and the NYU Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Sabrina Ellis’s journey with us goes all the way back to 2001, when she earned an associate degree at NYU. Since then, she’s earned a <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/bs-in-information-systems-and-technology.html">BS in Information Systems Management</a> and an MS in Human Resources Management and Development. Ellis spoke with us about her background, how she came to NYU SPS, and her HR leadership through the pandemic.</span></p>
Strength in a Non-Traditional Path
<p><span class="p-body">For Ellis, flexibility was key when she first pursued higher education. Having moved to NYC from the Midwest in the 1990s, she needed a program that would allow her to work full-time and dedicate her nights and weekends to her coursework. She found that flexibility at NYU SPS, saying, “I discovered the joy and reward of being a nontraditional student.”</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">Ellis wasn’t alone in her classrooms at NYU and found plenty of other students who needed a flexible program.</span></p>
My first-year cohorts included the founders of one of the first instant-messaging platforms. There was also a mix of full-time and part-time faculty, some of whom were prize-winning writers and scholars; several were C-Suite executives in Fortune 500 Companies.”
<p><span class="p-body">Over two decades later, Ellis still uses the skills she learned while pursuing her BS in Information Systems Management. She says, “I can honestly say that NYU SPS trained me for life beyond NYU.”</span></p>
Leadership Through the Pandemic
<p>As NYU's Chief Human Resources Officer, Ellis led her team through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic. "The pandemic caught us all by surprise, but NYU was well-equipped to manage through it," she states. Under her leadership, NYU found new solutions for remote work, collective bargaining agreements, and employee engagement.</p>
<p>After an impactful tenure at NYU, Ellis is set to start a new chapter as the chief people officer for the National Basketball Association. Reflecting on her career, she shares, "I grew up with a fascination of computers and anything computing related... but I am also a people person." In her new role, she will be able to pursue both interests, combining her technical skills with her passion for connecting with people.</p>
Honored and Humbled
<p>Receiving the 2022 SPS Distinguished Alumni Award is a moment of pride for Ellis. "It was a surreal moment when I was contacted. I sat back and said to my husband, 'Wow! This is a big deal and a huge honor,'" she recalls. She shares this recognition with her family, friends, and NYU SPS community, whose support and guidance helped lift her up to be the best she could be.</p>
Wisdom from a Triple-alumna
<p>For current and prospective NYU SPS students, Ellis offers invaluable advice:</p>
Believe that you can do whatever you set your mind to. Surround yourself with supportive people. Learning can, at times, require discomfort. Push through it."
<p><span class="p-body">Her journey exemplifies the limitless possibilities that arise from hard work, resilience, and the pursuit of education.</span></p>
<p><span class="p-body">To explore how an education at NYU School of Professional Studies can shape your future, visit our <a href="/content/sps-nyu/explore/degrees-and-programs/bs-in-information-systems-and-technology.html" title="BS in Information Systems Management">BS in Information Systems Management</a> page and start your journey today.</span></p>
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