Dr. Clark Harris
2021
Dr. Clark Harris became the fourteenth president of Northern Oklahoma College on July 1, 2021. Harris has been an educator for more than 30 years, bringing a passion and commitment for student success. His goal is to provide students life-changing skills for dynamic careers and life. He has been dedicated to fulfilling the community college mission, while serving as a community college administrator for 16 years. He believes community colleges should be integral to the community, creating well-articulated transfer programs; high demand, career and technical programs; and adult education that serves our diverse communities. He attended Johnson County Community College, transferring to Kansas State University, earning his B.S. in Agricultural Education and an M.S. in Adult and Occupational Education. He earned a Ph.D. in Career and Technical Education (CTE) at the University of Missouri.
He brings an inspiring, innovative, entrepreneurial spirit, with an open, inclusive leadership style. Dr. Harris has extensive experience building partnerships with K-12 schools, higher education, industry and community partners. He has online learning expertise, in-depth knowledge of CTE and vast experience in identifying and developing nimble programs that will address the ever-evolving business and community needs.
Dr. Harris was employed at Laramie County Community College (LCCC), where he has served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and as Special Assistant to the President, leading the Albany County Campus (ACC). At the ACC he was responsible for student services, academics, the campus budget and all aspects of operation. LCCC was selected as one of 13 colleges to participate in the American Association of Community Colleges Guided Pathways 2.0 project, to enhance enrollment, retention and student success. Dr. Harris provided leadership as co-chair of the initiative making extensive changes across academic and student service functions including reorganizing advising, setting instructional excellence standards, overhauling general education, developing structured degree program curriculum maps, updating all course & program competencies, developing co-requisite developmental math & English courses, streamlining the college admissions process, and developing seven overarching career pathways to help students focus.
Dr. Harris has always demonstrated his desire for equity in the workplace and the classroom. He served as Dean of Technology at Mott Community College, in Flint Michigan. In 2011, the Aspen Institute ranked Mott as one of America’s “Top Ten” community colleges. The Technology Division was a robust, inclusive, positive, entrepreneurial division that included computer information, and all of the industrial & trades programs. At Mott he demonstrated his extensive marketing and public relations abilities through many print materials, extensive social media presence, promotional videos and robust events. He has also presented over 100 significant national, regional and state conference presentations.
Dr. Harris taught 15+ years in the high school, community college and university. He was also executive director of MAVCC, a national award-winning curriculum center, which was housed in Oklahoma Career Tech, in Stillwater. A few of his state and national leadership positions include: president of Michigan Occupational Deans Administrative Council (including 28 community colleges, a tribal college and a state university), executive committee member of the WICHE Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders, and member of the Kansas FFA Executive Committee.
Dr. Harris and his wife Paula, a nurse educator, are very family oriented. They are very proud of their three adult sons as they thrive in their professional careers. He values the importance of community and has provided service to the Boy Scouts of America, Rotary International, and other church, youth and community organizations. Dr. Harris looks forward to active participation in the communities that NOC serves.