Stacey Harris has been hired as Duke’s next associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students, according to a Wednesday email from Mary Pat McMahon, vice provost and vice president of student affairs.
Her term is set to begin July 15, where she will be responsible for overseeing Duke’s mission to support its students’ well-being and mental health, as well as shaping programs to facilitate student growth and engagement.
Harris comes to Duke from The College of William and Mary, where she served as dean of students beginning in 2022. In the email, she was described as a “collaborative problem-solver and student advocate” who was committed to cultivating meaningful relationships across campus.
“[Harris] exemplifies empathy, drives meaningful change and ensures every voice is heard,” said Atticus Gore, a junior at William and Mary. “… Her most profound impact, however, lies in her ability to genuinely connect with students.”
According to Suzanne Raitt, dean of the faculty of Arts & Sciences and chancellor of English at William and Mary, Harris exemplified a “tireless dedication” to building meaningful connections with and fostering the well-being of the college’s students.
“Dean Harris’ fostering of every student’s independence while still making them feel safe and supported has helped countless undergraduates feel at home at William and Mary,” she said.
Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and communications from Curry College and a juris doctorate from Suffolk University Law School.
She began her career as an attorney, focusing on issues of civil rights, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and mental health advocacy. Harris then transitioned to private sector work, holding leadership positions at Lesley University, Monmouth University and Boston University.
Her 14-year tenure at BU saw her in multiple administrative roles, serving as a dean’s fellow, associate director of disability and access services and “a pivotal member of the student life management team,” according to the Wednesday email.
Harris will take over from Debbie Heida, who has served as interim associate vice president of student affairs and dean of students since the fall.
Heida joined the student affairs team in October to assist in the transition period after the previous dean, John Blackshear, announced he would leave Duke in January to serve as vice president of the University of Rochester.
The search committee for the dean of students position — announced in February and co-chaired by Chris Simmons, vice president for government relations, and Shruti Desai, associate vice president of student affairs for student engagement — “engaged in a thorough process to identify finalists for the role and collaborated with an array of student leaders, additional faculty, and campus partners, who also served on this committee,” according to the email.
“I am looking forward to engaging Stacey as a strategic partner and collaborator alongside other members of the Student Affairs leadership team,” McMahon wrote.
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Zoe Kolenovsky is a Trinity junior and news editor of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Abby Spiller is a Trinity junior and editor-in-chief of The Chronicle's 120th volume.