Dr. Harris is a 1998 Honor Graduate of Benedict College
COLUMBIA, SC, March 10, 2021 Today, Benedict College announced Dr. Vareva Harris as the new Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management effective March 16, 2021. With this new appointment, Dr. Harris will be responsible for international programs, supervising the TRIO Upward Bound programs, and scholarship administration.
A 1998 honor graduate and longstanding employee of the college, Dr. Harris has served in many roles including, English Learning Specialist; Director for Scholarships Administration and Transportation Programs; and Associate Vice President for Sponsored Programs, Government Relations, Corporate Relations, and Community Relations. “In this role, Dr. Harris will assist the college in enhancing our internationalization efforts including increasing study abroad opportunities for students and acculturation of international students,” said Dr. Emmanuel Lalande, Vice President for Enrollment Management.
“I love Benedict College and the opportunities that she provides for students to accomplish their dreams and goals. Playing a role in their success by connecting them to amazing experiences is exciting and an honor. Although I have worked at Benedict College for over 20 years, the transformation Benedict is currently undergoing under the Ester-like leadership of President Artis is energizing and phenomenal.”
Dr. Harris graduated from Woodruff High School, earned a Bachelor’s degree in the Teaching of English from Benedict College, a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from Columbia College, and a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.
About Benedict College
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution, offering 25 competitive baccalaureate degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around the world.
Benedict offers several high-demand fields of study in STEM, Cyber Security, Mass Communication, Sport Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and Education. The College also has a diverse faculty and importantly, 80 percent of courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Over the past ten years, three out of five Benedict College graduates have attended professional or graduate schools. There are over 18,000 proud Benedict Tigers throughout the nation. Benedict College has been a community leader for over 150-years and is a significant contributor to South Carolina and the region. Contributing $130 million and 1,218 jobs in total local and annual economic impact, a Benedict graduate working full-time throughout his or her working life can expect to earn $1.1 million in additional income because of their Benedict College degree.
The College made front-page news in the spring of 2018 when it became the first South Carolina college to lower its tuition by 26 percent. Cutting tuition drew praise from the Commission on Higher Education, South Carolina’s education oversight body. The commissioner noted that the move Benedict College made should be applauded because it offers families affordability and students greater access to higher education.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. For example, Benedict College was ranked as one of the top baccalaureate colleges in the nation by Washington Monthly magazine for creating social mobility and producing cutting-edge scholarship and research. In 2019, Benedict College received the 2019 ACE/ Fidelity Investments Awards for Institutional Transformation and was named the HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: The School of Education, Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Studio Art Program, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
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