Patti B. Harris, M.Ed.

Patti B. Harris, M.Ed.

Director, GEAR UP

Patti is the College Access and Success Manager where she facilitates GEAR UP NC’s uCoach partnership with eight community colleges and four-year public institutions. Additionally, she develops and oversees statewide programming and outreach initiatives, building and sustaining relationships with businesses, community partners and parents to leverage local support for GEAR UP related activities. Prior to working with GEAR UP, she served as director of the NC State College Advising Corps, a college-access non-profit whose mission is to increase the number of first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students who enter and complete higher education. Patti earned her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University and her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Currently, Patti is working on her PhD in Higher Education from North Carolina State University. As a first-generation college student, and North Carolina native, Patti serves to ensure all students have access to earn a post-secondary credential.