Dr. Duncan Harris Taking on Leadership Role at Capital Community College
President Mark Ojakian has selected Dr. Duncan Harris, Dean of the Student Affairs Division at Manchester Community College to serve as the Interim Campus Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the campus.
On July 1, 2018, President Wilfredo Nieves will be retiring as president of Capital Community College after 8 years at the helm. In addition to serving as Capital’s president he served as President of Middlesex and Interim President at Naugatuck Valley over his 18 years of service to the community college system. Dr. Nieves will preside over the college’s commencement ceremony on May 24, 2018.
President Mark Ojakian has selected Dr. Duncan Harris, Dean of the Student Affairs Division at Manchester Community College to serve as the Interim Campus Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the campus. “I appreciate Dr. Harris’ willingness to take on this leadership role as well as the energy and enthusiasm he will bring to the campus and most importantly Capital’s students. I will be working closely with him to ensure Capital continues to build on the strong foundation laid by President Nieves.”
Dr. Duncan Harris joined the Manchester staff in 1996 as a test administrator in the College Learning Center and over the past twenty-two years has served as Interim Director of the Center for Student Development, Coordinator of Academic Advising, Associate Dean in the Academic Affairs Division, Acting Provost and since 2009 as the Dean of Student Affairs. In these positions he has been both a team member and leader of key academic and student affairs initiatives. Dr. Harris also served for one year as the Interim Executive Director of the CSCU Student Success Center. Additionally, he served as an adjunct faculty member at Manchester.
Dr. Harris is a member and past president of the National Council on Black American Affairs, the Connecticut Association of Latinos in Higher Education, the National Academic Advising Association and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. He is currently a representative on the American Association of Community Colleges, Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Commission and member and served as the Connecticut liaison to Complete College America. He has been the CT 100 Men of Color Award recipient and CCSU School of Education Distinguished Counselor awardee. Dr. Harris also has strong community connections in the region having served as a member on the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Foodshare, Windsor Federal Savings, Community Health Resources and the BSL Education Foundation.
Dr. Harris’ 12 years of management level experience, expertise in enrollment management, student retention and success strategies, proven abilities in fundraising, substantial experience in faculty and staff professional development, and lifelong commitment to the promotion of diversity, inclusion and equity will be great assets to Capital as it moves forward.
Capital Community College, one of 12 community colleges in Connecticut, is the result of the 1992 merger of Greater Hartford Community College (founded in 1967) and Hartford State Technical College (founded in 1946). Through the years Capital and its founding institutions have provided central Connecticut with postsecondary educational opportunities by granting associate degrees, preparing students to transfer to baccalaureate studies and offering workforce and career development programs.