Cassie Ellis
Assistant Professor
Dr. Cassandra Ellis is an Assistant Professor at the Ivey Business School and the School of Kinesiology at Western University. She also serves as the Manager of Sports Performance and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with Western University Athletics. Her interdisciplinary research explores the development of habits and sustainable excellence in performance at both the individual and group levels. Drawing on frameworks from character education, music therapy, mindfulness, and embodied practices such as yoga, her work bridges theory and practice to examine how performance environments shape character, leadership, and long-term wellbeing.
Dr. Ellis specializes in mixed methods research, with an emphasis on qualitative methodologies—including in-depth interviews, reflexivity, and reflective questionnaires—to investigate how athletes and high-performing individuals cultivate habits, navigate stress, and pursue growth. Her research contributes to broader conversations in the social sciences around behaviour change, motivation, and human potential.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. Ellis plays a leading role in applied high-performance sport development at Western. She designs and implements holistic support programs that address not only physical training, but also mental health, nutrition, sports medicine, and academic success—contributing to a broader understanding of athlete development within institutional and social systems. She also mentors coaches, assistant strength staff, and practicum students, helping to translate research into meaningful, community-embedded practice.
And in staying true to the holistic approach to connecting with the student-athletes face-to-face, Cassie continues to teach Leadership studies, furthering her reach and connections. Her research and leadership foster a culture of sustainable excellence and provide a unique model of integrated support with potential applications across sport, education, and organizational development. Her work aligns with Ivey's Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership by advancing knowledge on human development, performance, and the structures that support or inhibit flourishing in high-pressure environments.