Biography of Dr. James T. Harris
About the President
Dr. James T. Harris III became the ninth president of Widener University in 2002. Prior to his arrival at Widener, Dr. Harris served eight years as president of Defiance College. During his highly successful tenure, the college developed several innovative initiatives, including the Presidential Service-Leader Scholarship Program: The McMaster School for the Advancement of Humanity and, according to U.S. News and World Report, national recognition as one of the top service-learning schools in the country. For his dedicated leadership and service to Defiance College, the faculty and trustees unanimously voted to award him The Pilgrim Award, the college’s highest honor.
Achievements
During Dr. Harris' tenure as president, Widener has achieved record levels of private and governmental support and attracted the largest freshman class in the school's hiistory. In 2006, Washington Monthly magazine ranked Widener as one of the top 250 universities in the country that do the most for our nation and in 2007, Widener was ranked 47th, placing it among the top 25 private universities in the United States.
The university has also improved its physical plant through the development and implementation of a new master plan for the main campus that includes 50,000 square feet of new science and engineering space, renovated dining hall and dormitories, a new apartment style residence hall, and a new Wellness Center. In summer 2007, ground was broken for a $50 Million Providence Avenue Revitalization Project.
Vision 2015
Vision 2015 is an ambitious ten year plan to move the university into the forefront of American higher education by focusing on its unique mission as a metropolitan university. One of the top priorities identified in Vision 2015 is for the university to connect curricula to societal issues through civic engagement. Widener aspires to serve as a national model on how to use university resources to develop a robust learning environment for students while simultaneously addressing the most pressing needs of the metropolitan areas it serves.
Interaction with Students
Dr. Harris has been an advocate for enhancing Widener’s reputation as a “student-centered” learning community. He regularly holds public town hall meetings and meets with students in small groups on a regular basis to seek input on how to improve the university’s learning environment. He frequently works along with students on community service projects and participates in the university’s alternative spring break. In 2006, Dr. Harris accompanied a group of Widener students to Bolivia to renovate a school in an impoverished rural community.
Once a year he trades places with a student who becomes “President for the Day”, while Dr. Harris fulfills the student’s campus responsibilities, including attending classes. Dr. and Mrs. Harris host hundreds of students at their home every year. In addition, he continues to be a guest lecturer in various classes at Widener and has taught an honors leadership course in the School of Business Administration.
Leadership
Dr. Harris has been asked to serve in several local, state and national leadership roles. A few examples of his responsibilities beyond Widener include membership on the boards of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and Pennsylvania Campus Compact. In 2007, Dr. Harris was named to the President’s Council of The National Collegiate Athletic Association. Earlier in his career he served on a national commission for the advancement of service-learning established by President Clinton and since 2002, he has been a member of the faculty of the Management Development Program at Harvard University.
Awards and Honors
In recognition of his considerable contributions to education and the communities he has served, Dr. Harris has been the recipient of many awards and honors. Two examples include being named one of the top fifty character building university presidents in the United States by the John Templeton Foundation as well as being awarded the highest honor from the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the NAACP for his commitment to civil rights and social justice issues. In 2007, he was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the university’s contributions to local communities.
Dr. Harris has earned degrees from the University of Toledo, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and The Pennsylvania State University. All three of his alma maters have recognized him as a distinguished alumni including Penn State that bestowed upon him the lifetime title of Alumni Fellow. He has published widely and is frequently asked to speak about the importance of civic engagement.
Dr. Harris has been married to his wife and best friend, Mary, for twenty-six years and they are the proud parents of two sons, Zachary and Braden.
January 2008