Dr. Robert L. Harrison, dean of the College of Professional Studies at West Virginia State University (WVSU), has been honored with a 2013 Governor’s Civil Rights Day Award.
Harrison was recognized at the West Virginia Culture Center at the Governor’s 10th Annual Civil Rights Day awards ceremony. Also recognized was Christopher Jackson, interim program coordinator of the Wilson University Union at WVSU.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be receiving this award,” Harrison said. “My dad often said that I will always look out for a person just needing a chance. This award affirms what my father said.”
In addition to his work as an education professor and dean at WVSU, Harrison is involved with the National Center for Human Relations where he chairs the Faith-Based Initiatives Committee. He also serves on the Historic Preservation Committee.
When he was chairman of the Department of Education from 2003-2007, Harrison worked to have WVSU designated as a national Reading First Teacher Education Network School by the U.S. Department of Education. WVSU was one of only 38 institutions selected for the Network, whose purpose was to increase reading achievement of minority and high poverty students in the public school system.
Prior to joining the WVSU faculty in 2002, Harrison worked for 12 years at the W.Va. Department of Education. From 1968-1988, he was employed as a teacher at Bluefield High School and Central Junior High School where he taught English, journalism, and reading, For 10 years he coordinated the Black History Month Activities for Bluefield High School.
Jackson is a WVSU graduate and has worked for the University in a variety of areas including as interim director of continuing education and interim director of recruitment.
A native of Institute, Jackson is also an active member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
For 2013, the Governor’s Civil Rights Day Theme was “Advancing Civil Rights Through Advocacy.” In all, 24 individuals and organizations were honored at the awards ceremony.
The annual Civil Rights Day Awards Luncheon is sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs, the W.Va. Division of Culture and History, Charleston Job Corps and the W.Va. Human Rights Commission.
