His name was submitted by CTCI Director Richard Mandeville. The Commission discussed several candidates and voted unanimously to nominate Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris says he is honored to be chosen for the recognition. I very much believe in the principles the Association expounds, he notes. Students of all ages have better educational experiences as a result of the accreditation process.
Schools have a set of standards by which to measure their own achievement.
It was serendipity that brought him to a career in higher education, Mr. Harris says. After earning a bachelor s degree at the University of Bridgeport, he spent two years in a personnel post before an opportunity to teach and be a college administrator presented itself. He served as an administrator and faculty member at Roger Williams College, Progress for Providence, Inc., Middlesex Community College, Rivier College, Aquinas College, and New Hampshire Technical Institute before becoming provost at New Hampshire Community Technical College in Nashua in 1999. He has a master s in education from Northeastern University, a master of arts from Providence College, and has completed all work toward a doctorate at Boston College except for the dissertation. Mr. Harris views himself as a teacher who works as an administrator, and he continues to teach on a regular basis.