James T. Harris III, DEd, became the University of San Diego's fourth president on August 3, 2015. With more than 9,000 students from 69 countries and 50 states, USD is the youngest, independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States and was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America's most entrepreneurial research universities. The University of San Diego is one of only 43 universities in the world designated as an Ashoka U Changemaker campus.
Dr. Harris has focused his attention at USD on five key areas: 1). Engaging the university community to gain insight and direction from listening sessions and collaborations with faculty, staff, administrators, students, trustees, alumni, local community members and friends of USD from across the globe; 2). Building positive momentum for Envisioning 2024, a strategic planning process that capitalizes on the university's recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024; 3). Building upon the strong philanthropic momentum achieved by USD in recent years; 4) Creating taskforces charged with assessing and further developing the university's diverse and inclusive community, expanding sustainability initiatives and enhancing USD's role as an anchor institution of scholarship, teaching, learning and service; 5) Supporting the university's efforts to enhance the liberal arts in the Catholic intellectual tradition, by emphasizing the importance of developing within students critical thinking, advancing skills in writing and oral communications, and fostering independent thought, innovation, integrity and engaged citizenship.
Throughout his academic career, Dr. Harris has worked closely with cross-discipline teams to spearhead new civic and community engagements, connecting academic environments with intractable issues faced by society.
"USD is in a strong position to address significant societal issues, and the establishment of centers on campus such as the Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness and Social Action and our designation as an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus provides us with a great framework for moving forward," he said. "I believe we have much work to do as a society and as a university in helping people understand their roles as responsible citizens on and off campus as well as expanding on our work as an anchor institution in San Diego."
