History professor to begin new duties in Spring 2026
Presbyterian College has appointed Dr. William “Will” Harris, associate professor of history and current faculty chair, as dean of academic affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences.
A member of the PC faculty since 2017, Harris brings nearly two decades of teaching, research, and academic leadership to the role. He will oversee undergraduate academic programs, student success initiatives, and career and professional development efforts while working closely with faculty, staff, and students to advance the college’s strategic academic goals.
“Dr. Harris is a proven leader who understands both the academic and human sides of higher education,” said PC provost and vice president of academic affairs Dr. Erin McAdams. “He has demonstrated a deep commitment to excellence in teaching, student achievement, and inclusive collaboration. His experience and vision make him exceptionally well-suited to lead the College of Arts and Sciences.”
As dean, Harris will supervise associate deans for academic success and for career and professional development, direct the college’s First-Year and Second-Year Experience programs, and support initiatives related to student recruitment, retention, and academic integrity.
Harris joined PC after serving as a visiting assistant professor at Slippery Rock University and as an instructor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Cornell University. He earned his Ph.D. in history from Cornell, where his dissertation, Community and (Dis)Order in Antebellum Mississippi: Identity and Violence in the Making of a Mississippi Slave Society, explored identity and social order in the Old South
At Presbyterian College, Harris has taught courses on world cultures, American history, the civil rights movement, and African American history. He currently chairs the Faculty Senate and has previously served as faculty vice-chair and interim director of diversity and inclusion. His extensive committee work includes leadership roles on the Strategic Retention Committee, the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and the Undergraduate Programs Committee of the Board of Trustees.
President Dr. Anita Gustafson praised Harris as “a dedicated scholar and an inspiring leader whose service has consistently strengthened our academic community.”
Harris said he is honored to take on the new role, which he will assume this January.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve PC in this new position,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work with and for our faculty, staff, and students to advance the goals of our college community.”
