
David E. Harrison
Background
David E. Harrison, a Valdosta, GA native, is the senior director of the Office of Advancing Community Connections and Empowering Student Success (ACCESS) at The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business, where he has served since 1993. He is Fisher's longest-serving senior staff member, with a career marked by securing over $7 million in grants to support student scholarships, fellowships, and programming.
Hired by the late Dr. Frank Hale Jr., David began his career at Ohio State in 1987 as a recruiter, counselor, and coordinator for the Minority Scholars Program within the Office of Minority Affairs. He later advanced to the roles of office manager and associate director of recruitment and development before taking on his role at Fisher.
David holds a B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina A&T State University and an M.A. in Political Science from The Ohio State University. A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran, David served for eight years (1985-1993) and is a recognized veteran of the Gulf War campaign, including Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He was awarded two distinguished service medals and two certificates of commendation, receiving an honorable discharge for his exemplary service.
David’s contributions to Ohio State and the community have earned him numerous awards, including the Franklin County Children's Services SIMBA Program's "Man of the Year" (1990), Columbus Jaycees Outstanding Young Citizens Community Service/Junior Achievement Award (1997), the Ohio State Distinguished Diversity Enhancement Award (1998), the Ohio State National Alumni Association Josephine Failer Award (1998), Franklin County Children’s Services Ten Year Volunteer Service Award (1999), and the Ohio State Asian Business Student Association Faculty/Staff Award of Appreciation (2000). He also received the 2001 Ohio State Distinguished Staff Award, the 2003 Most Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award, the 2004 Boy Scouts of America Whitney Young Service Award, and the Fisher College of Business Outstanding Staff Service Awards in 2004 and 2011.
David was honored with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Rho Lambda chapter's first annual Jewel Award for Leadership in Education in 2008. In 2023, he received the Fisher College of Business’s highest staff honor, the Coykendale Staff Service Award for Excellence. Most recently, he was awarded the 2024 Valerie B. Lee Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to Ohio State’s African American male community.
David is a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge (St. Mark's Lodge #7) and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also a lifetime member of several organizations, including the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), Prospanica (formerly the National Society of Hispanic MBAs), and the National Association of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Clubs (NABSTMC), Inc. A 2004 inductee into the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, David was recognized in 2013 by the Greater Columbus Community Helping Hands, Inc. as its "Ambassador for Education Award" recipient. In 2018, he received the NABA Central Region's Most Outstanding Service Award and is featured in the 2024 edition of Who’s Who Blacks in Columbus.
David and his wife, Tamara, have been married for over 36 years and are the proud parents of four daughters. They are active members of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, where David serves as chairman of the deacon's ministry.