Andrea Harris
|
Posted By: latoya taylor on November 02, 2012 PROFESSION: Executive Andrea Harris, class of 1970, is a perfect example of a Belle who has moved forward with "Â"no borders and no limits"Â". Andrea Harris is President of the NC Institute of Minority Economic Development in Durham NC but that alone does not tell you who she is. She is a highly energetic visionary who has helped to create a cutting edge organization that seeks to help minority businesses succeed in the fiercely competitive and hard edged world of business. Andrea is one of the founders of the organization she leads. Alumna Harris has been the president of the organization since 1990. In her own words: "Â"I am a cheerleader for businesses in limited resource communities, minority owned firms and increasingly service disable veterans owned enterprises."Â" In a word she works to help business people who start out with some liability to enhance their chances of success. This is extremely important work and good for everyone in society. As we are witnessing now, without a strong viable economy, everybody suffers. Andrea believes she must also engage in public policy development work, because until you engage with key public policy and private sector leaders nothing will change for the better. Small and minority businesses are a key to building the economic base in their communities. The Institute also provides some education and training in partnership with several schools and colleges including Bennett. What Andrea enjoys most about her work is experiencing the success of her clients and knowing she has helped them to grow stronger. She says her most significant contribution has been facilitating change in the culture of our state. This has increased the appreciation and economic value of firms owned by minorities and women, and helped to create the infrastructure in the larger society to support that growth. According to Andrea, her greatest difficulty is not being able to help firms in a way she would like in these tough economic times. There are still few women in this work. Andrea says she is often the only woman or woman of color at the economic development table. Given her passion for the work, we know that she must make the others in the room sit up and take notice. Andrea is a fiercely loyal Bennett alumna. She is convinced that her time at Bennett taught her to be reflective and gave her a sense of self worth, and that Bennett taught her the importance of service, and helped put her in the leadership role she holds today. In many ways Andrea has created her own position by moving to embrace a non-traditional career for women and by making a strong viable contribution to the world. She wants her legacy to be the increased economic strength in minority and limited resource communities. This strong Bennett Belle is a stellar example of believing that there are no limits to the work she has chosen. She gives this advice to young Belles: "Â"Believe in yourself and grab hold of this culture of self-affirmation that exists at Bennett. Go to ACES programs and embrace the traditions of the college. Don'tt reject them because it is all of these initiatives that will help make you a healthy and whole sister. It is that healthy and wholeness of self that assures you will find fulfillment deep inside your souls in whatever else you elect to do. Celebrate these opportunities while you are at Bennett. You will be a better person for it."Â" If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest Famous HBCU Alumni
 |
Sherri Shepherd Honors Mercer’s Nonprofit Powering HBCU DreamsTeeJ Mercer’s Move-In Day Mafia Transforms Foster Youth Lives
TeeJ Mercer, the creative force behind the nonprofit Move-In Day Mafia, was recently celebrated on The Sherri Shepherd Show for her excep ...more
Hija Chang • 985 Views • August 6th, 2026 |
 |
Crispus Attucks: American Revolutionary Hero?Crispus Attucks is a name that twenty-first century American schoolchildren usually learn in their introduction to the American Revolution and its heroes. Attucks—a man of African and Native American ...more
Hija Chang • 853 Views • July 25th, 2026 |
 |
On International Chess Day, Celebrating Maurice Ashley – The First African American Chess GrandmasterContent Artist: Shourjyani Chatterjee
Maurice Ashley became the first Black chess Grandmaster in 1999.
He coached young players from Harlem and became a globally recognised chess commentator.
...more
Hija Chang • 778 Views • July 24th, 2026 |
 |
How Dr. Samuel Lee Kountz, Jr. revolutionized kidney transplantsBorn in Lexa, Arkansas in 1930, Dr. Kountz had to work hard and overcome several obstacles to reach his goal of becoming a doctor. Despite failing the entrance exam at his first attempt applying for c ...more
Hija Chang • 780 Views • July 20th, 2026 |
Popular Famous HBCU Alumni
 |
Della Miles takes Michelle Obama to the stage in "Obama the Musical"When Della Miles was a student at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, everyone new she would be a brighter star one day having been selected Miss PVAMU and 4th Runner-up to Miss Texas/America 1984. ...more
Frederick Roberts • 91,135 Views • April 11th, 2010 |
 |
Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey, the multi media mogul, has garnered international appeal for her talk show. As the first Black woman billionaire in world history, Winfrey has overtaken EBay CEO, Meg Whitman, as the ri ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 39,659 Views • September 30th, 2005 |
 |
Kerry D. ChandlerKerry D. Chandler, a San Diego, CA native, is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at the National Basketball Association responsible for leading the league's global human resources strateg ...more
Ryan Rogers • 34,805 Views • May 3rd, 2011 |
 |
Rick Ross - Yep Another HBCU AlumnusWilliam Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. Ross founded the record label Maybach Music Group. He was born in Coahoma County, M ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 33,559 Views • September 1st, 2010 |
