Harris to step down from OEL to pursue full time teaching job

Dr. Robin Harris is stepping down from her position as director of GC&SU’s Office of Experiential Learning after this semester to focus on her passion-teaching.

Recent health problems caused Harris to realize she needed to reevaluate her priorities in life.

“I have some physical problems that have been getting progressively worse. For about six months, my doctors and my family had been encouraging me to slow down and eliminate the demands that have a negative impact on my physical mobility,” Harris said. “Finally, after two bad falls in January, I realized they were right. Teaching has always been my first love, and makes far fewer physical demands on me. I realized I could fulfill my real passion as well as take better physical care of myself by taking advantage of my option to return to full time teaching.”

Sara Faircloth, campus director of OEL’s American Humanics, agreed.

“I think, for her sake, it’s time for her to step down,” Faircloth said. “Her job is an enormous one and, because she is the first person to ever hold the position, she has worked so hard over the past four years to build the OEL. She needs to be able to go back and do what she loves the most.”

Harris has worked to Fulfill the mission of the OEL: “To provide opportunities for students outside the classroom that support and enhance what students learn inside the classroom.” Harris has spent four years developing a wide array of programs and systems that offer administrative support and structure for numerous student-focused activities.

Accomplishments and programs that Harris is most proud to have been associated with include the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) program and the shift of The Corinthian: the Journal of Student Research at GC&SU from a faculty-edited publication to a student-edited one.

Dr. Doris Moody, director of GC&SU’s Honors and Scholars Program and associate professor of Biology, has agreed to serve as the interim director in the fall. After a year, there will be a national search to hire a full-time interim.

“Under the leadership of Harris, the GEM Program has become a hallmark program for GC&SU with statewide recognition and increasing competition among students to be selected for participation,” Moody said. “As interim director of OEL, my challenge is to maintain the quality of the program and to facilitate the dissemination of this model with local chambers of commerce throughout Georgia. I have always been amazed at the multiple programs and tasks that Dr. Harris and her staff have handled. Even so, she has held on to teaching, the thing she loves most.”

During the 11 years Harris has taught at GC&SU, she co-founded the Student AIDS Now Grasps Every Living Soul (A.N.G.E.L.S.) organization and helped resurrect the History Club.

As an administrator, Harris continued to teach as often as possible, usually one course each semester, along with summer courses. Harris is also a tenured associate professor in the Department of Government & Sociology.

“Teaching has always been first in how I view myself,” Harris said. “I always identify my faculty role and then explain that ‘to support my teaching habit, I am an administrator.”

In the fall, Harris will work full time in the Department of Government & Sociology and teach four courses each semester.

Harris received her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech in the History, Technology & Society program. This unusual background and training allows her to teach courses considered as significant contributions to the programs offered by her department.

“We are absolutely delighted to have a teacher of Harris’ caliber returning full time to the department,” Dr. Mike Digby, chair of the Department of Government & Sociology, said. “Her doctorate is from a very interesting program, one that is very valuable for this department because it is truly interdisciplinary. She can not only teach the basic sociology courses but also advanced courses in family, gender, science and technology policies.”

“The study of technology is innately global and multidisciplinary,” Harris said. “Technology can’t be looked at in a vacuum, but must be studied in the context of sociology. This is fascinating to me and I have found that, once introduced to this perspective, many students find it fascinating as well.”

Faircloth said Harris is deeply committed to her students.

“Harris has such a sense of purpose and such a drive to do well,” Faircloth said. “I don’t know anyone who cares about their students as much as she does.”

Amy Davis, OEL administrative assistant, agreed, and said she thinks of Harris as her mentor.

“The enthusiasm and dedication Harris has for service to others is a shining example of what we should all strive to do,” Davis said. “She is my inspiration to focus on improvement of my world and my community.”

Harris said she and Moody are alike in that students are their top priorities.

“Moody and I have known each other for a long time and I know that she has the love for students that’s important to this job,” Harris said. “I feel very comfortable knowing she will be the interim.”

Harris said she and Moody are currently working together as Moody prepares to undertake her role as interim OEL director.

“From the first day I made the decision to step down, facilitating a smooth transition for the OEL staff and the students involved with OEL programs was foremost in my mind,” Harris said. “The OEL’s foundation has been established, but now the structure needs to be solidified and built upon, and I know Moody can do it.”

Heather Holder, OEL program coordinator, said Harris will be missed, but she looks forward to working with Moody and hopes to benefit from her experiences.

“Harris has been a wonderful leader for the OEL office and during her time as director, and her passion for enhancing student’s educational opportunities has left a lasting impression on all of the programs,” Holder said. “Harris will be deeply missed, but we look forward to growing under the leadership of Moody and hope to benefit from her experiences with the Honors and Scholars program, as well as the pre-professional programs.”

Moody said although Harris is stepping down, she has no doubt students will still be greatly affected by her.

“We will miss her in the OEL, but we are happy that she will be returning her lifelong passion,” Moody said. “Students will still benefit from her nurturing, her knowledge and her skills as an educator.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 1 2005. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry