Department of Education Policy & Leadership

Michael Harris

Associate Professor



Ed.D., University of Pennsylvania
3101 University Blvd, Ste.306,
Dallas, 75205
Box 750114
214-768-4779
Send an email

Michael S. Harris joined the faculty of Southern Methodist University in 2012 as an associate professor and director of the higher education program. His scholarly interests are in public policy and organization of public higher education. He currently is exploring the issue of institutional diversity and the interplay between market forces, government involvement, and higher education.

His work has been published in the Journal of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, Innovative Higher Education, Planning for Higher Education, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Trusteeship, and reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Harris currently serves as a Member-at-large with Division J (Postsecondary) within the American Educational Research Association. He has served on the editorial board of the Journal of General Education and reviewed for the annual meetings for ASHE and AERA, Journal of Higher Education, Routledge, Innovative Higher Education, Education Policy Analysis Archives, International Journal of Management in Education, and other leading journals as well as the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE).

He holds a B.A. from the University of North Carolina in American History, a M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in higher education administration. In 2004, he received the AERA Division J Dissertation of the Year award.

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Dupaul, S. & Harris, M.S. (2012). Secret shoppers: The stealth applicant search for higher education. Journal of College Admission, 215, 8-16.

Harris, M.S. & Hartley, M. (2011). Witch-hunting at Crucible University: The power and peril of competing organizational ideologies. The Journal of Higher Education, 82(6), 691-719.

Harris, M.S. & Barnes, B. (2011). Branding access through the Carolina Covenant: Fostering institutional image and brand. Journal of Student Financial Aid, 41(2), 36-46.

Holley, K.A. & Harris, M.S. (2010). Selecting students, selecting priorities: How universities manage enrollment during times of economic crisis. Journal of College Admission, 207, 16-21.

Harris, M.S. (2010). Interdisciplinary strategy and collaboration: A case study of elite American research universities. Journal of Research Administration, 41(1), 22-34.

Barnes, B. & Harris, M.S. (2010). Privatization influences and strategic enrollment management decisions in public research universities. College & University, 85(4), 2-9.

Harris, M.S. (2009). Message in a bottle: University advertising during bowl games. Innovative Higher Education, 33(5), 285-296.

Bourke, B., Major, C.H., & Harris, M.S. (2009). Building the public perception of community college learners: Fictional portrayals of two-year college students. The Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 33(1), 55-69.

Harris, M.S. & Bourke, B. (2008). Selling exclusion: Images of students of color in bowl game advertising. College & University, 84(2), 18-26.

Harris, M.S., & Holley, K.A. (2008). Constructing the interdisciplinary ivory tower: The planning of interdisciplinary spaces on university campuses. Planning for Higher Education, 36(3), 34-43.

Harris, M.S. (2007). From policy design to campus: Implementation of a tuition decentralization policy. Education Policy Analysis Archives. 15(16), 1-18.

Bray, N.J., Harris, M.S., & Major, C.H. (2007). New verse or the same old chorus? Lessons from distance education. Research in Higher Education. 48(7), 889-908.

Zheng, P., & Harris, M.S. (2007). The university in the knowledge economy: The Triple Helix model and its implications. Industry and Higher Education. 21(4). 253-263.

Harris, M.S. (2006). Out out, damned spot: General education in a market driven institution. Journal of General Education. 55(3-4), 186-200.

BOOK/MONOGRAPH CHAPTERS

Harris, M.S. (2009). Marketing during televised athletics: Opportunities for institutional branding and image creation. In Toma, J.D. and Kramer, D. (Eds). The uses of intercollegiate athletics: Opportunities and challenges in positioning the university. (pp. 23-33). New Directions for Higher Education, (148). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Harris, M.S. (2009). The escalation of student consumerism. In Knapp, J.C. & Siegel, D.J. (Eds). The business of higher education. Volume 3. (pp. 89-105). Westport, CT: Praeger Publishing.

Harris, M.S., & Roth, J.H. (2008, Summer). The use of data in affirmative action. In Luna, A. (Ed.). Legal applications of data for institutional research. (pp. 19-30). New Directions for Institutional Research, (138), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

PUBLICATIONS FOR EDUCATORS AND THE PUBLIC

Harris, M.S. (2011, July 24). We must face danger of student loan debt for higher education. The Birmingham News. F1.

Harris, M.S. & Holley, K. (2009, August 30). Higher education important as ever. The Tuscaloosa News. D8.

Shaw, K.A. & Harris, M.S. (2006, July/August). Before all *@#%! breaks loose. Trusteeship. 14(4). 29-32.

PRESENTATIONS (* denotes invited)

Bourke, B. & Harris, M.S. (2012). Lighting the fire: Drawing in students through branding. Program presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators in Phoenix, AZ.

Harris, M.S. & Smith, M. (2011). Recruiting strategies of nonresident students and the privatization of public universities. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Charlotte, NC.

Holley, K.A. & Harris, M.S. (2011). Stimulating interdisciplinary research: An analysis of the National Science Foundation investment in the Recovery Act. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Charlotte, NC.

Harris, M.S. & Barnes, B. (2011). Branding access: Using financial aid to foster institutional image. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in New Orleans, LA.

Dupaul, S. & Harris, M.S. (2011). Secret shoppers: The stealth applicant search for higher education. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in New Orleans, LA.

Barnes, B. & Harris, M.S. (2010). Privatization influences and strategic enrollment management decisions in public research universities. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in Denver, CO.

Harris, M.S. (2009). Interdisciplinary strategy and collaboration: A case study of elite American research universities. Roundtable presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Vancouver, BC.

*Rios-Aguilar, C. & Harris, M.S. (2009). Balancing the demands of a new faculty position. Presentation to the AERA Division J Emerging Scholars Conference in San Diego, CA.

Harris, M.S. & Bourke, B. (2008). Public U. for private gain: The selling of exclusion in university advertising. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in New York, NY.

*Harris, M.S., & Mendoza, P. (2008). Balancing the demands and opportunities of a new, tenure-track faculty position. Presentation to the AERA Division J Emerging Scholars Conference in New York, NY.

Harris, M.S. (2007). University advertising during bowl games: A study of brand personality. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Louisville, KY.

Harris, M.S., & Holley, K.A. (2007). Interdisciplinary culture and strategy in higher education: A case study of elite research universities. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Louisville, KY.

Harris, M.S. (2007). Public U. for private gain: The selling of exclusion in university advertising. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Visual Sociology Association in New York, NY.

Harris, M.S., & Dyer, B.G. (2007). Classrooms as organizations: Exploring culture in a mass lecture and a seminar class. Roundtable presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in Chicago, IL.

*Harris, M.S. & Wells, A.E. (2006). Setting priorities: Attaining balance in the job search. Presentation to the AERA Division J Graduate Student/Faculty Mentoring Pre-conference Seminar in San Francisco, CA.

Zheng, P. & Harris, M.S. (2006). The second academic revolution: Interpretation of academic entrepreneurship. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Anaheim, CA.

Harris, M.S. & Hartley, M. (2005). Witch-hunting in the academy: The power and peril of competing ideologies. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Philadelphia, PA.

Zheng, P. & Harris, M.S. (2005). Universities in the global knowledge economy: The triple helix model and its implications. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education in Philadelphia, PA.

Major, C.H., Bray, N.J., Dyer, B.G., & Harris, M.S. (2005). Core curricula for American higher education programs. Roundtable at the annual meeting of the Council for the Advancement of Higher Education Programs in Philadelphia, P.A.

*Harris, M.S. (2005). A theory-based analysis of the rise of campus-initiated tuition increases and their effects on the University of North Carolina. Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

*Harris, M.S. (2005). Leadership theory in organizations. Presentation to the Alabama Community College Leadership Academy in Tuscaloosa, AL.