Professor Elliott was a professor of English at York University from 1966 to 2002, and served York University as Master of Winter’s College (1980 to 1987); Chair of the Department of English (1993 to 1999); Chair of Senate (1998 to 1999) and as a member of York’s Board of Governors.
In 1996, he was awarded a University Professorship in recognition of his accomplishments, both academic and within the University community. His research and teaching focused on the poetry of the Romantic period and Irish writing in English.