DePaul's Harris joins Lipscomb administration

Dr. Bennie Harris has been named vice president for development at Lipscomb University, President Randy Lowry has announced. He comes to Lipscomb from DePaul University in Chicago where he served as the assistant vice president for development and campaign director.

“Dr. Harris is a wonderful addition to our administrative team,” Lowry said. “He brings a demonstrated record of success and specific experiences that will be very helpful as we seek to elevate our academic programs, our service to the community, and all that is the Lipscomb experience.”

Harris, who will work directly with Joseph M. Ivey, senior vice president for advancement, has already begun to outline a vision for his work at Lipscomb. “My immediate goals are to create a culture of philanthropy at Lipscomb and among its constituents which includes increasing staff fundraising productivity, connecting all Lipscomb alumni to the many wonderful opportunities at Lipscomb, and improving donor stewardship and increasing gifts and charitable bequests to Lipscomb,” Harris states.

Harris holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Mississippi State University, an MBA in strategic marketing from Washington State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Along with his leadership position at DePaul, Harris also served as the director for the Center for Human Rights at Washington State University, as interim and associate director of corporate and foundation relations at Washington State, and as senior director of development and external affairs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Harris has more than 15 years of experience in professional fundraising including annual giving, alumni relations, major gifts, planned giving, events management, government relations, corporate and foundations relations, advisory board support and marketing.

“Beyond the technical skills, knowledge and years of progressive fundraising experience at premier institutions,” he said, “I bring a sincere belief in Lipscomb’s mission and its constituents. I believe that Lipscomb can live out Christian values and principles in this higher education environment which has the immediate impact of influencing a world. I believe strongly in that.”

Harris also knows the advantages of being located in the bustling capital city of Nashville. “Nashville is a wonderful progressive community. Nashville also has a wonderful history of strength. In my opinion, Nashville made it possible for me to consider and be considered for this opportunity at Lipscomb. Nashville is a city of courage and possibilities. It was in Nashville that David Lipscomb transported the Daughters of Charity to minister to victims of the cholera epidemic…it was in Nashville that young students at Fisk and Tennessee State led voter registration drives throughout the South and ultimately changed the course and face of America’s future. A future that includes me at Lipscomb.”

He and his wife, Frankie, have three beautiful children, Bria Lee Andrea, Bennie Lee, II, and Branden Lee André. The family has already started their transition to Nashville while still keeping Chicago ties to allow the children to finish the year in their current schools.

“My transition has been exceptionally great!” Harris states. “Everyone has been extremely supportive and accommodating. It’s a wonderful experience to be in a leadership meeting with President Lowry and other colleagues and have Randy to lead us in prayer, then to have each member of the team participate in this prayer asking God’s Holy Spirit to direct our steps, to guide our decisions and to let His will be done at Lipscomb. That’s powerful. I couldn’t ask for a better transition. It’s as if my whole professional career has been to bring me to this place…at this time…in this manner…for this work.”