Judy Ellis is the founder and chair of the nation’s first baccalaureate program in Toy Design, which launched at FIT in 1989. In 2013, Ms. Ellis was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame, the industry’s highest honor. In 2016 She received the rank of Distinguished Professor, the State University of New York’s highest honor. She is also a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service; SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Classroom Faculty; the FIT President’s Award for Faculty Excellence; and a Women In Toys organization award for outstanding contribution to the industry.