EXPERIENCE
From innovation to impact at scale
A concise overview of Harrison's leadership in higher education administration and policy. Explore the timeline below or download his academic CV.
Experience timeline
President, University of North Texas
2024–Present
Leading a Carnegie R1 research university of 42,000+ students through a period of historic challenges anategid strc transformation — reforming budgeting practices, launching the Look North: UNT 2030 strategic plan, and dramatically increasing fundraising within two years.
Commissioner of Higher Education
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
2019–2024
Set higher education budget and policy priorities for the state of Texas, including a historic community college finance reform, creation of the $4B Texas University Fund, and coordinating the state's pandemic response for higher education through student financial aid, workforce training, and other initiatives to accelerate economic recovery.
Deputy to the President for Strategy and Policy, UT Austin
2015–2019
Coordinated policy innovations in affordability, access, and student success to help UT Austin become a top-12 national innovator, per U.S. News.
Vice Provost for Higher Education Policy and Research, UT Austin
2009–2015
Founded the OnRamps dual enrollment initiative and developed networks of public university and college leaders working together to enhance student success and educational productivity.
Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning, UT Austin
2010–2015
Led a 200+ person team supporting faculty innovation in teaching, including UT Austin's contributions to the edX consortium.
Texas House of Representatives;
Charles A. Dana Center, UT Austin
Earlier
Formative years leading technical studies in Texas school finance and developing state education budget and policy, including support for a legislative overhaul of the public school funding system.
Selected initiatives
Look North: UNT 2030
UNT's five-year strategic plan and the first in the nation to embrace “Time to Value” for graduates as a core accountability metric.
Building a Talent Strong Texas
The state's strategic plan for higher education — the first in the nation to condition postsecondary attainment goals on the economic value of credentials.
Community College Finance
Worked with state leaders to design and implement a comprehensive outcomes-based reform of the Texas community college finance system and student financial aid.
OnRamps
Founded a large-scale UT Austin dual-enrollment initiative that serves more than 70,000 Texas high school students.
Texas OnCourse
Established the nation's most comprehensive digital college-and-career advising platform, training 19,000+ secondary counselors and advisers statewide.
