Ellen Schall, the Martin Cherkasky Professor of Health Policy and Management, was appointed dean of New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in November, 2002.

Schall joined the NYU Wagner faculty in 1992. She teaches courses in public service management and reflective practice and has directed the School's clinical initiative and its management specialization program. Schall has also taught courses at the NYU School of Law and Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she is a member of the Visiting Committee. From 1983 to 1990, Schall was commissioner of the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Schall has also served as deputy commissioner for program services and legal policy in the New York City Department of Correction and on the staff of the NYC Deputy Mayor for Criminal Justice. She also spent six and a half years as a criminal defense attorney with The Legal Aid Society.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2001 NYU Distinguished Teaching Medal, the 1997 Public Service Award from the NYU School of Law Alumni Association, the 1990 Osborne Medal given by the Osborne and Correctional Associations for achievement in criminal justice and the 1989 Florence E. Allen Award for exceptional attainment in the law given by the Women's Bar Association and NYU Law School. While at DJJ, the agency was selected by Harvard University and the Ford Foundation for a $100,000 Innovation Award in 1986.

Schall earned her B.A. from Swarthmore College and her J.D. cum laude from NYU's Law School in 1972.