Education- Texas Southern University, B.A.; LBJ School of Public Affairs, M.P.A.; University of Texas Law School, J.D.

Legislative Experience- Senate Member, 1990 - Present

Hometown- Houston

Party- Democrat

Senator Rodney Ellis was elected to the Texas Senate in 1990. During his tenure, he has earned praise as a leader on economic development, education, civil rights, responsible environmental policy, tax cuts for the middle class, and criminal justice issues, having passed over 500 bills.

He is the proud founder of the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP). Since TLIP's inception, it has become the largest legislative internship program in the state. Senator Ellis has nearly $2 million in funding for the program, giving over 400 young people the opportunity to make a difference in Texas politics and public policy. Three former TLIP participants are currently members of the Texas House of Representatives.

Senator Ellis is the current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Organization, which looks at measures to improve the efficiency of state government. He also sits on the Senate State Affairs, Criminal Justice, Transportation and Homeland Security, and Open Government Committees. He also has chaired the Senate Finance, Jurisprudence, and Intergovernmental Relations Committees in previous sessions.

Senator Ellis currently serves on the University of Texas School of Law Foundation Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Board of Directors, and the board of the Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation. He also chairs the Board of Directors for the Innocence Project, Inc. of New York, and co-chairs the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change.

Before his election to the Texas Senate, Senator Ellis served three terms as a member of the Houston City Council and as chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University, a master's degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Ellis also studied at Xavier University of New Orleans and the London School of Economics.

Rodney Ellis is married to Licia Green-Ellis and has four children.