CSM Appoints Harris to Dean of Leonardtown Campus
Posted by the College of Southern Maryland
Pax III Leader
Tracy Harris
The College of Southern Maryland has announced the appointment of Dr. Tracy A. Harris of Hollywood as vice president and dean of the college’s Leonardtown Campus.
“Dr. Harris is a perfect addition to CSM. In addition to his extensive higher education experience, he lives in St. Mary’s County and is committed to this region. He will be able to hit the ground running as we continue to ensure that CSM is providing the best possible services to the citizens of St. Mary’s County,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried.
Dr. Harris has more than 26 years of higher education experience, including 12 years within community colleges and 14 years with bachelor-degree universities. Most recently he served as dean of enrollment services with Prince George’s Community College (PGCC), with prior experience in admissions and financial aid at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
“I am honored and excited to be selected as vice president and dean for the Leonardtown Campus for the College of Southern Maryland. My goals are simple – to serve the educational and personal enrichment needs of St. Mary’s county residents, to support faculty and staff development, and to continue to support the strategic goals for CSM as a premier higher education institution,” Dr. Harris said.
Dr. Harris received a doctorate of philosophy, community college leadership, from Walden University; a master of public administration from University of Pittsburgh with certification in personnel and labor relations; and a bachelor of science degree in administration of justice from The Pennsylvania State University.
As an adjunct faculty member with PGCC, he has taught principles for learning success. He has served and presented on state and national levels on leadership, enrollment management, student assessment and stress management. Harris has conducted research in strategic marketing and student retention and he has published several peer-reviewed research articles on the persistence of first-year college students, college campus safety and enrollment management practices.
Dr. Harris is married to Lori Jennings-Harris, director of St. Mary’s County Department of Aging and Human Services, and they have lived in St. Mary’s County since 2006. They have two daughters: the eldest, a graduate of Leonardtown High School (LHS) and Prince George’s Community College, is a scholarship recipient attending Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C. and the youngest is a junior and an honors student attending LHS.
In his role as vice president and dean, Harris will oversee the Leonardtown Campus. Spring enrollment at CSM was 8,999 with 2,630 students at the Leonardtown Campus, 25 percent more than four years ago.
CSM is an open-admission, comprehensive regional community college that fosters academic excellence and enhances lives in Southern Maryland. CSM meets the diverse needs of students and the community by providing accessible, accredited, affordable, and quality learning opportunities for intellectual development, career enhancement, and personal growth. The college embraces lifelong learning and service, providing a variety of personal enrichment and cultural programs in a safe and welcoming environment. For information, visit www.csmd.edu.
