Theresa Harrison describes herself as a “born and bred Tennessee girl.” But for her, South Carolina is home.
And it stands to reason why the Palmetto state — particularly the University of South Carolina — would be. Her mom’s family is from Greenwood, and her dad’s family is from Orangeburg. She earned her doctorate from USC in 2023. Her sister also works at USC in Student Health and Well-Being as assistant lab manager.
Harrison has also spent the last 14 years working in various roles at USC, putting down roots in the Columbia community. And she’s ready to take on a new role as the university’s executive director of Community Engagement.
“I have had many opportunities to be involved in community engagement throughout a variety of different roles at USC,” Harrison says. “When this position became available I felt like it was a natural fit for me in my career trajectory at this time.”
Harrison will work with USC’s Division of Access, Civil Rights and Community Engagement facilitating, elevating and celebrating community-engaged work at the university.
“Dr. Harrison’s extensive experience across multiple USC roles — combined with her deep South Carolina roots — makes her the ideal leader to strengthen the vital partnerships between our university and the communities we serve,” says Julian Williams, vice president for Access, Civil Rights and Community Engagement. “Her vision for meaningful engagement will be transformative for both our campus and our neighbors.”
Harrison has served as both a faculty and staff member in her time at USC and is uniquely situated to develop ways to connect Gamecocks to the Columbia community.
Some of her ideas include customized workshops, reviving the statewide bus tour to connect faculty and staff with different regions of the state and creating a Community Engagement Fellows program to recognize those already doing great work at USC.
“We already have this existing relationship with the community in which our institution is situated by nature of our geography,” Harrison says. “But it takes some strategic planning and effort to really be intentional and make sure that we are listening to what the community is saying.”
Her first role at USC was as the community service programs coordinator and she’s gone on to work with Capstone Scholars, USC Connect (now known as the Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning), the Carolina Family Engagement Center and the Research, Evaluation and Measurement Center.
Every stop along her journey has given her experiences that have broadened her knowledge of the field of community engagement in higher education.
“I want to take advantage of this opportunity to think about how we can best partner with communities and help them grow and sustain the good work that we're trying to do together,” she says. “How we can be better partners in listening to what they have going on? And really making sure that we're addressing the needs of our communities.”
As she gets started in her new role, the self-proclaimed Tennessee girl is ready to hit the ground running and deepen her South Carolina roots.
“I am extremely excited to have the chance to work with communities throughout South Carolina because of the connection I have with this state. Being able to do this in the state where my parents grew up and were raised and where my extended family lives just means so much to me,” Harrison says.
“I want to see our institution excel because I did receive my degree from here and I want to give back to both the Carolina and Columbia communities that have supported me over the years.”