Southwest Baptist
University News Release
Contact:
Sharina Smith, Office of Marketing & Communications
BOLIVAR, Mo. – SBU announced that
Dr. Rob Harris has earned a promotion upon successfully defending his
dissertation for a Doctor of Education from Northcentral University. Dr.
Harris’ study is titled, “The Role of E-Mentoring in Helping College Sophomores
Persist and Stay Enrolled.” The study has implications for improving retention
at universities like SBU.
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| Dr. Rob Harris |
President
Pat Taylor said in the announcement to the SBU family: “Rob’s title is changing
from Dean of Students to Vice President for Student Development. Rob is doing
great work with our students, and I appreciate all he does to help our students
succeed. He is an asset to our University.”
Dr.
Harris began his employment at SBU in the summer of 1988. He started
as the assistant director of admissions and worked his way through the ranks by
becoming the director of admissions in 1996. His time spent recruiting and
admitting future SBU students was built upon a personal conviction that
Christian higher education provides an extra dimension that enables students to
grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
In 2004, he
transitioned to the dean of students’ position where he has served the
University, its students, and other institutional constituents in an effort to
help fulfill the University’s mission. Overall, he enjoys helping students to
think critically, consider new ideas, solve problems, and depend on the Holy
Spirit.
Dr. Harris enrolled as a student at SBU in the fall of 1984 and was a member of SBU’s football, baseball and Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) teams. He graduated in 1988 with his Bachelor of Science in business administration. He went on to earn his Master of Science in education from SBU in 1996.
Dr. Harris enrolled as a student at SBU in the fall of 1984 and was a member of SBU’s football, baseball and Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) teams. He graduated in 1988 with his Bachelor of Science in business administration. He went on to earn his Master of Science in education from SBU in 1996.
Dr. Harris said he and his wife, Lorie, met in their first week of classes of their freshman year, united in matrimony three years later, and just celebrated their 25th anniversary on July 4. Dr. Harris, Lorie, and their three children are active members of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Mo.
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Southwest
Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating
Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at
an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic
community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global society. For
more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
SBU’s
Office of Marketing and Communications is available to news media 24 hours a
day at (417) 399-7918.
