Shortly after Greg Harris graduated with his degree in sports administration, he found himself in an enviable situation for any recent grad: two job offers on the same day. His options? A position with the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team, or an offer from his alma mater in admissions and enrollment management.
Lucky for Case Western Reserve, Harris followed his heart toward a career in higher education, and 17 years later he’s officially been named the university’s dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs, effective Aug. 1.
“I had a lot of mentors, professors and others that impacted my undergraduate journey and helped me grow,” Harris reflected. “I’m a first-generation college student, and I thought that maybe I could, in some way, open up the possibility of attending college to students that may not have seen that as a part of their future.”
For nearly six years, Harris focused on enrollment and admissions at what was then Edinboro University (now Pennsylvania Western University, Edinboro), while earning his master’s in communication studies with a focus on managerial and leadership communications, and a graduate certificate in conflict management.
In 2013, Harris’s passion for engaging with students and supporting their holistic development led him to transition to CWRU as an assistant dean of undergraduate studies.
“I wanted to be involved with the student experience from enrollment to graduation, understanding their experiences and challenges,” Harris recalled. During his five-year tenure in undergraduate studies, Harris found himself increasingly drawn to work in student affairs, and a direct involvement in coaching students through the social and well-being aspects of the student experience—a commitment that would earn him a nomination for the Jackson Award for Undergraduate Mentoring.
In 2020 Harris seized an opportunity to join the Dean of Student Office—first as the senior associate dean of students, and later adding assistant vice president for student affairs to his title. This role positioned Harris to further his impact on the student experience, specifically through adjustments to reporting systems designed to get help for students who may be in crisis, and the 24/7 on-call schedule and protocol—a partnership with Public Safety, Greek Life, Residence Life, the Office of Equity and University Health and Counseling Services.
Now, after four years with the Dean of Students Office—and four months in the interim dean of students role—Harris’ vision for the office centers on intentionality and inclusivity in the student experience. He aims to create a supportive environment that celebrates students’ achievements in addition to helping them face challenges.
“We’re here to improve global citizens,” Harris emphasized. “To help students bounce back, break through barriers and be resilient.”
Learn more about Harris in this week’s 5 questions.
1. Name a spot in Cleveland you haven’t checked out yet, but would like to see.
I’ve been wanting to visit the Solstice Steps at Lakewood Park for a while. It’s a place in the park where you can sit and watch some really phenomenal sunsets—I’ve heard a lot about it, but I’ve never been there, and I think it would be an amazing place to visit with my partner, my daughter and our Maltese. I think about it every summer, so this is a great reminder to finally make it happen.
2. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I think it depends, but I’m really not a morning person until I’ve had my coffee, so I’m going to say night owl. You’re not going to get too many conversations out of me early in the morning.
3. What’s an interesting fact about yourself most people don’t know?
I don’t talk a lot about my baseball background, so most people probably don’t know that I was an All-Conference shortstop in high school in one of the top conferences in Northeast Ohio, and senior year I led my high school team to the division title.
4. From what do you draw your biggest inspiration in your work?
My biggest inspiration is family. When I think about everything I’ve done, and what those driving forces have been, it’s always led to some aspect of my family. Being a first-generation college student, sometimes that meant recognizing and taking advantage of opportunities others in my family didn’t have. And now I think about it a lot in terms of helping future generations in my family realize the potential they have and all that they can achieve.
5. What’s your favorite thing about Case Western Reserve?
It’s always been the dynamic people. There’s never a dull moment here, and our day-to-day responsibilities certainly keep us busy, but it’s the interactions, the conversations and the relationships that I like the most. I really enjoy getting to know and understand more about individuals—their personalities, what their values are, what their driving factors are—so anytime I get to interact with students and my colleagues, I feel like I continue to learn and grow.