Biography of Director
Office of Minority Student Services
.jpg) |
David E. Harrison is a native of Valdosta, GA. He currently serves as the Director of the Office of Minority Student Services within the Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. Prior to serving in this role, he was an Assistant Director of Recruitment and Development and Office Manager within the Office of Minority Affairs at the Ohio State University. He joined the Office of Minority Affairs staff in 1987 as a Recruiter/Counselor and Coordinator of Minority Scholars Program. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at North Carolina A. &T. State University in 1985 and his Masters of Arts degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Policy and Theory at The Ohio State University in 1988. He received two Certificates of Commendations and an Honorable Discharge because of his service as a Reservist in the United Stated States Marine Corps. He served for eight years (1985-1993) in the USMCR.
Considered as one of the most recognized and accomplished Senior Administrative Staff Members at The Ohio State University, his extracurricular campus and community awards and honors are numerous and include the following: Columbus Jaycees Outstanding Young Citizens Community Service/Junior Achievement Award-1997; OSU Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award-1998; OSU National Alumni Association Josephine Failer Award-1998; Franklin County Children’s Services Ten Year Volunteer Service Award-1999; Asian Business Student Association Faculty/Staff Award of Appreciation for Guidance, Hard Work, and Support-2000; 2001 OSU Distinguished Staff Award; 2003 Most Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award; 2004 Boy Scouts of America Whitney Young Service Award, and the 2004 FCOB Outstanding Staff Service Award. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also a Lifetime member of the NABA, NBMBAA, and the NSHMBAs. He is a 2004 inductee into the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. As the Immediate Past President of the NBMBAA- Columbus Chapter, he was recently recognized by that 7,000 member national organization as its “NBMBAA Member of the Year.” He is currently featured as one of the Most Influential Blacks in Columbus, Who’s Who Blacks in Columbus, 2008 Edition.
He currently advises or co-advises 12 student organizations within the Fisher College of Business. He has been instrumental in helping to start eight organizations during his 24 years at The Ohio State University as a student and an administrator. He says, “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of our OSU graduate and undergraduate students...I've just wanted to do my best and be the best support for them.” To the students he advises, he emphasizes that “I am committed to our university and the mission of our campus. I care, and for me it’s more important for students to know that our university cares.”
David resides, with his wife (Tamara Evette) and their three daughters (Krystal Renee, Esther Marie, and Charity Michaele), in Columbus, Ohio. He also has a daughter (Ashley Nicole Williams) who completed her Associates degree at Jacksonville Community College in Jacksonville, Florida. David serves as a Deacon and he and his family attends the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church.
