Dr. Tina M. Harris made history in 2019 when she was named the nation’s first chair in Race, Media and Cultural Literacy at Louisiana State University (LSU). This month, she’ll add another title to her extensive curriculum vitae as the 2020 Scholar in Residence at the University of Houston-Downtown’s Center for Critical Race Studies (CCRS).

Harris will be in Houston Feb. 10 – 13 for a series of seminars, discussions and lectures conducted on campus and in the community.

The veteran scholar’s passion for exploring other cultures and learning about race began as a child while living in Spain. As a college student at the University of Georgia (where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees) and later the University of Kentucky (where she completed her doctorate), she fully realized the significance of diversity as a topic of research.

As a professor, Harris taught at Bowling Green State University and her alma mater, the University of Georgia (where she served its Department of Speech Communication for more than 20 years). Last year, she accepted the role of Douglas I. Manship and Dory Maynard Endowed Chair of Race, Media and Cultural Literacy at LSU.

During her academic career, Harris has earned more than 30 acknowledgements and awards. These include the University of Georgia’s highest teaching honor—Josiah T. Meigs Teaching Professor Award—and the institution’s Engaged Scholar Award.

As a researcher, Harris has focused on topics such as communication and pedagogy, diversity and media representation, race and ethnic disparities, and religious frameworks in health communications.

She has authored a range of articles and book chapters addressing race and communication. She also is the co-author (with Dr. Mark Orbe) of the textbook “Interracial Communication: Theory Into Practice.”

Harris joins the ranks of previous CCRS Scholars, including Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva in 2019, Dr. Bettina L. Love in 2018, Dr. Tim Wise in 2017, Dr. Subramanian Shankar in 2016, Jimmy Santiago Baca in 2015 and Dr. Brittney Cooper in 2014.

A schedule of 2020 events is listed below and can be accessed online:

Feb. 10

Fireside Chat with Dr. Rockell Brown Burton at Texas Southern University

6 p.m. – MLK 104

Feb. 11

Administrator and Staff Development Seminar

10:30 a.m. – Milam Room

Social Justice Engagement

3 p.m. – YES Preparatory High School

Feb. 12

Student Activist Luncheon

12:30 p.m. – Houston/White Oak Room

Feb. 13

Critical Conversations: Classroom Inclusivity w/ the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence

Noon – Milam/Travis Rooms

Community Leaders Networking Mixer

5 p.m. - UHD Welcome Center Lobby

Critical Race Studies Annual Lecture Series

6 p.m. – Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium