Dear Colleagues-Friends,
It is my pleasure to announce that Kevin Harris, Ph.D., has been named senior associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion for the VCU School of Medicine, an inaugural and vital position for our school. In this new permanent role, Dr. Harris will continue to serve as our chief diversity officer and act as a catalyst for advancing policies and programs that promote diversity, equity, access and inclusion for our learners and employees within the broader context of achieving our mission.
Dr. Harris brings a wealth of experience in diversity work as a former assistant vice president for student initiatives and inclusion at VCU and the current associate vice president for strategic initiatives and engagement in VCU’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences. In this role, Dr. Harris has been responsible for assisting the senior vice president for health sciences on strategic and operational priorities, fostering student success and leading diversity affairs and community engagement initiatives.
During his time as interim senior associate dean, Dr. Harris has helped move our community from dialogue into action by facilitating the de novo development and implementation of a diversity, equity and inclusion plan for our School of Medicine, standing up the new Inclusion Council and building the beginnings of programs to support our community’s equity and inclusion journey.
Additionally, Dr. Harris’s national experience in the Division of Diversity Policy and Programs at the Association of American Medical Colleges and with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Summer Medical and Dental Education Program offers a broad lens with which to view diversity and inclusion that we will all benefit from. Dr. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Christopher Newport University, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. His research focuses on diversity in higher education as it intersects with interprofessional education in health sciences.
We are sincerely grateful to Dr. Pat Nana-Sinkam and Dr. Aimee Grover who co-chaired this search committee and to all who participated on the committee and during this national search.
Please join me in offering a warm welcome to Dr. Harris in his new role.
With all good wishes,
