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Faculty retirement spotlight: Q&A with Dr. Muriel Harris
On Friday, June 28, faculty, staff, students, and partners gathered to celebrate Dr. Muriel Harris' retirement after nearly two decades with the UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
Dr. Harris started with the Dept. of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences in July 2005 and served the department in a variety of roles over the years, including director of the PhD program, director of the MPH program, and chair of the PhD program committee. As a faculty member, she took the initiative to organize and lead numerous trips to Ghana for public health students, and chaperoned other UofL trips abroad, which provided memorable cultural, educational, and research experiences. Dr. Harris was a Fulbright Scholar, chair of the SPHIS Diversity Committee, chair of the UofL Commission on Diversity and Racial Equity (CODRE) and held many other positions in service to the school, the university, and to communities locally and around the world. She is a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Prospect Goshen, having served as both president and foundation chair, and will continue as a Rotarian in retirement.
Dr. Faye Jones, Associate Vice President for Health Affairs/Diversity Initiatives and Professor of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine, and Dr. Harris worked together at UofL for many years. They were colleagues, collaborators, mentors, and over time, became friends. Dr. Jones shared this story to illustrate the impact of their longstanding relationship.
Not long after I transitioned into my current role, I approached Muriel with a request to share her personal story. At first, she seemed hesitant, but eventually, she agreed. Her journey, as she described it, was nothing short of captivating. It painted a portrait of a resilient and determined woman who consistently triumphs over adversity. Muriel continues to embody this resilience, offering guidance and support to all who seek it. I've witnessed her navigate challenging circumstances with unwavering strength and use her influence to advocate not only for herself but for numerous others as well. Muriel's presence will be deeply missed, but true to form, she's committed to being a pillar of support for anyone in need.
Dr. Harris has made a significant impact throughout her career and deserves everything that retirement has to offer. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Harris and wishing her the very best as she starts a new adventure.
Q&A with Dr. Muriel Harris
If you know Dr. Harris, you know that her schedule is packed. In fact, in the month leading up to her departure she chaperoned a UofL student trip to South Africa. Despite how busy she was, she graciously responded to several questions about her experience at SPHIS. Here’s what she had to say:
What is your fondest memory while working at UofL/SPHIS?
Taking students to Ghana each year (almost) for an educational, cultural immersion, and public health research/service experience
What do you feel was your most meaningful work at university/SPHIS and/or what work are you most proud of?
Working with our doctoral students and seeing them graduate from our program and move into new careers. I also had the pleasure of completing a textbook with Dr. Baraka Muvuka, one of our doctoral graduates and a soon to be published book chapter with Leonda Richardson (a current doctoral student) and Dr. Imisha Gurung (a recent graduate)
What was your favorite class to teach at UofL/SPHIS?
My favorite classes have been those where students have done community engagement projects. I love seeing how the students learn and grow through the semester as they are challenged to think differently and bring together many of the skills they learn in other classes. That integration is critical for their understanding and has occurred at both the master’s and the doctoral levels. My favorite class though has probably been the Advanced Program Evaluation. It is also the one I have heard students say has been the most impactful in the program!
What message would you like to share with all the public health alumni you know/taught?
I loved the experience of teaching them and helping them grow but I especially enjoyed learning from them! My goal was always that they achieved mastery of the fundamental concepts in our field.
Do you have a message for students just starting out? What do they have to look forward to as public health students and graduates?
Spend your time in graduate school mastering as many skills as you can! Learn how to do the difficult things! Master concepts and learn to apply them accurately and completely. Work hard but give yourself grace, it takes time and patience! You can look forward to being able to take the skills into a range of professional positions. Remember, even if you don’t see where and how what you are learning applies, trust the process!
What are your plans for after retirement?
I will continue to offer my services to UofL in my capacity as an Adjunct Professor. I will be working on the 3rd edition (publication date 2025) of my evaluation textbook- Evaluating Community and Public Health Programs. I will continue to build my involvement in the Rotary Club and their work to empower communities through service projects as well as serve on local and international community boards.
Connect with Dr. Harris on LinkedIn.
