Savannah State University President Cheryl D. Dozier, DSW, has named Clarissa Myrick-Harris, Ph.D., as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Savannah State University starting August 1, 2016.

Myrick-Harris comes to SSU from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., where she served as associate provost for pedagogical and curricular initiatives and a tenured professor of African American Studies. She joined Morehouse College in 2012 as the dean of the division of humanities and social sciences—the first woman appointed as an academic dean at the institution.

Prior to working at Morehouse, Myrick-Harris spent five years at the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building as the founding director of the Curriculum and Faculty Enhancement Program and during the latter two years, also served as interim executive director of ICB.

"Dr. Myrick-Harris’ exemplary record as a professor, scholar, historian and administrator will be an asset as she takes the helm of the academic units at Savannah State University,” said Dozier. “She is well prepared for the responsibilities of the office, and I am confident she will provide effective leadership for our faculty, staff and students.”

Myrick-Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Morris Brown College, a master’s degree in news editorial journalism from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in American studies from Emory University.

She has taught journalism, literature, history, news writing and African American culture. While focused on liberal arts in her teaching, Myrick-Harris has been involved in community efforts to preserve history. She served as chair of the Georgia National Historic Register review board, curator for the APEX Museum, consultant for the National Park Service’s Tuskegee Airmen oral history project, and co-curator of the 1906 Atlanta Race Riot exhibit for the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.

Myrick-Harris has successfully written numerous grants funded by such organizations as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation and others. She has also produced several articles and lectures.

“I am excited about enhancing the successful academic programs and developing innovative initiatives to ensure that our graduates continue to be fully prepared for the ever-evolving 21st century global workforce,” Myrick-Harris says.