“SDCCE is what I am. I have been homeless, marginalized, faced language barriers, I am a veteran, I am SDCCE,” he says with pride. For him every student milestone is a reminder that education changes lives. “To play even a small role in their success is profoundly meaningful.”
Born in Flint, Michigan, in 1967, Harris grew up in a household led by his mother, who worked long hours at General Motors to provide for him and his younger brother. “When my brother and I returned home from school, my mother was often already at work. Weekends, holidays, or sick days were rare moments together. My mother never told me I needed to be ‘the man of the house,’ but I knew I had to step up. By nine, I was helping care for my younger brother and learning what it meant to lead with quiet strength and love,” Harris shared.
A later move to Pittsburgh to care for his grandmother exposed him to a challenging environment that inspired him to aim higher for his future and his family.
After high school, Harris joined the U.S. Navy the day after graduation to find direction and purpose. He became a Yeoman, learning administrative and office skills, and was stationed in Japan, a life-changing experience that introduced him to a new culture and led him to meet his wife, Kumiko.
Harris’s military career included deployment aboard the USS Blue Ridge during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. “On January 16, 1991, I spent 14 hours in Damage Control Central during the first strike of the war,” he recalls. “The fear and uncertainty were overwhelming. That day changed me forever and taught me courage, discipline, and the value of life.”
After leaving the Navy, Harris transitioned to higher education, starting at Southwestern College in 2000. Over 24 years, he rose from Administrative Secretary to Center Operations Supervisor while earning his associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. “Education became not just a personal goal, but a mission. I realized education allowed me to use my leadership to help others grow, succeed, and discover their purpose just as I had discovered mine.”
In 2024, Harris joined SDCCE’s West City Campus, a special place he affectionately coined as ‘Dub City’. “West City is more than just a campus; it’s a family,” he says. “Many of our students, faculty, and staff share military backgrounds, which creates an atmosphere of mutual respect, structure, and camaraderie. This campus embodies the values I learned in the Navy: teamwork, accountability, and service. Every day, I see people coming together with a mission-first mindset.”
Harris is deeply committed to supporting veteran students, emphasizing dignity, respect, and honor. Located at the college’s Educational Cultural Complex, the Veterans Resource Center provides counseling, academic advising, workshops, referrals to veteran-focused services, and guidance on VA Education benefits to help veterans translate their skills into meaningful careers.
“Veteran-focused programs bridge the gap between military and civilian life,” Harris explains. “When veterans return to civilian life or pursue education, they deserve institutions that understand and honor their service.”
At SDCCE, veterans can take advantage of more than 70 free career training programs, including VA Education Benefits for programs in automotive technology and welding, ensuring their military experience leads to real-world opportunities. Harris envisions Veterans Resource Centers on all seven SDCCE campuses, staffed by veterans who can relate to students’ experiences. “When I meet a veteran, I share my story so they know I’ve been there too.”
Reflecting on Veterans Day, Harris states, “When people thank me for my service, it means more now than when I was in uniform. I want to honor the legacy of those I served with who didn’t get to come home and for their families. Our love for this nation and its people will always endure."
Learn more about Veteran Services