Co-led international service learning trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.
Graduation with Leadership Distinction graduation ceremony in 2016.
Theresa Harrison, Ph.D.
Hello! My name is Theresa Harrison; I am a Research Associate in the Research, Evaluation and Measurement Center in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina (USC). In this role, I work with fellow research associates and research assistants to carry out education-related program evaluations, assessments, and research projects.
My research interests are community-university relationships and partnerships, cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration, place-based community engagement, anchor institutions, P-16 and P-20 initiatives, critical race and decolonizing pedagogies, and abolition studies.
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As an instructor, I want my students to think critically about their beyond the classroom experiences, how they interact with others, what they learn about themselves through these experiences, and how these experiences inform their professional ethic. Ultimately, I want my students to leave my class knowing how important it is to genuinely seek to understand others’ perspectives and make informed decisions about issues that affect the communities in which we live.
Strengths Finder
People with strong Input talents are inquisitive. They always want to know more. They like to collect certain things, such as ideas, books, memorabilia, quotations, or facts. Whatever they collect, they do it because it interests them. They find many things interesting and have a natural curiosity. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. Their pursuits keep their minds fresh. And they know that one day some of the information or things they have gathered will prove valuable.
People with strong Deliberative talents are careful and vigilant. Everything may seem in order, but beneath the surface they sense many risks. Rather than avoiding these hazards, they draw each one out into the open. Then each risk can be identified, assessed, and ultimately reduced. Thus, those with strong Deliberative talents bring a thorough and conscientious approach to making decisions. To them, making the correct choice is more important than the time it takes to do so.
Perspective and background are important for people with strong Context talents. They value the retrospective viewpoint because they believe that is where the answers lie. And, counter-intuitively, they become wiser about the future because they can see its seeds sown in the past. Others may become impatient with them as they strive to understand the history of a given situation. But, in the end, this historical context gives them confidence in their decisions.
People with strong Intellection talents like to think. They like mental activity. They like to exercise the “muscles” of their brain, stretching them in multiple directions. This need for mental activity may be focused; for example, they may be trying to solve a problem, develop an idea, or understand another person’s feelings. The exact focus will depend on their other strengths. People with strong Intellection talents are introspective. This introspection gives them time to reflect and ponder. Wherever it leads them, their mental hum is a constant in their lives.
Things happen for a reason. Those with strong Connectedness talents are sure of it. They have a powerful conviction that everyone is connected. While each person is responsible for his or her own judgments and actions, those with strong Connectedness believe everyone is part of something larger. This belief implies certain responsibilities. Their awareness of these responsibilities creates their value system. They are considerate, caring, and accepting. Certain of the unity of humankind, they build bridges for people of different cultures. They give others comfort that there is a purpose beyond everyday existence. Their faith is strong. It sustains them and their close friends in the face of life’s mysteries.
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Input
Intellection
Deliberative
Context
Collaboration
Education
I earned a B.S. in Psychology and Biology from East Tennessee State University in 2007, and a M.S. in Counseling and School Psychology with an Emphasis in Student Affairs from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2010. In May of 2017, I completed the MPA@UNC program at UNC-Chapel Hill. In May 2023, I completed my Ph.D. at UofSC!
Hobbies
I have a love for reading. For the past couple of years, I've been fixated on political biographies and anything involving the Civil Rights Movement.
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I enjoy listening to podcasts about history and politics. Some of my favorites:
The Bowery Boys
Rachel Maddow presents Ultra; Deja News; Bag Man
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