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Paul C. Harris, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Counseling and Special Education

Paul C. Harris, Ph.D.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Counselor Education, University of Maryland
  • M.Ed. in Counselor Education, University of Virginia
  • B.S.Ed. in Health & Physical Education, University of Virginia

Research interests

K-12 student development; athlete wellness; school counselor efficacy

Career highlights

  • Editorial Review Board Member for Professional School Counseling journal
  • Senior Advisory Board member for The Professional Counselor journal
  • Former President of Virginia School Counselor Association
  • Former member of the board of directors for the American School Counselor Association

Recent publications

  • Harris, P. C. (2025). Dear Black athletes: A moral imperative is rarely enough. Diverse Issues in Higher Education. https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15741181/dear-black-athlete-a-moral-i mperative-is-rarely-enough

  • Harris, P.C., Mayes, R.D., Mims, L.C., Mitchell-Dodge, K.*, & Dhahan, M.K.* (2024). The critical need for SEL policy for Black youth. Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). https://casel.org/blog/sel-and-black-youth-mental-health/

  • Wadley, K., Slaten, C.D., Harris, P. C., *Sebastian, B., & Curs, B. (2024). “We Try to Build Relationships”: The Role of School Community and Belonging on Career Preparedness. Journal of Career Development, 51(5), 560-578.

  • Mayes, R.D., Hines, E.M., Vega, D., Harris, P. C., Lawson, T. (2024) Cultivating Homeplace for Black Girls Through Tier II Interventions. Professional School Counseling, 28(1a), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X241234927

  • Harris. P. C., Byrd, J., Kim, H., Seward, M., Baker, A., Meyyappan, A., Kumar, D., & Nickens, T. (2023). Counseling Black Male Student-Athletes in K-16. In Hines, E.M., & Fletcher, E.C. (Ed). Black males in secondary and postsecondary and education (Advances in race and ethnicity in education, Vol. 9). Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, 163-177.

  • Hines, E.M., Fletcher, E. C., Harris, P.C., Henderson, J. A., & Moore, J. L. (2023). Using Homeplace to Guide STEM Identity Development in Black Males Theory Into Practice. Theory in Practice, 63 (1), 88-98.


Bio

Paul C. Harris, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the VCU School of Education, Department of Counseling and Special Education. His research draws on his experience as a high school counselor, teacher, and administrator. The goal of his research is to facilitate the holistic development of youth. He pursues this goal through three lines of research: 1) Analyzing students' intersectional identities and their respective schooling experiences; 2) Investigating factors associated with the development of a multidimensional sense of self in athletes; 3) Development of pre- and in-service school counselor training strategies to ensure the holistic development of K-12 students.


Curriculum Vitae