Dr. Kendall T. Harris is Men's Prayer Breakfast Speaker

Dr. Kendall T. Harris, Dean of the Roy G. Perry College of Engineering at Prairie View A&M University is the featured speaker for the Men's Prayer Breakfast on May 21, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church on 204 Dooley Street in Prairie View.

Dr. Harris is a licensed professional engineer, Harris began his tenure at Prairie View A&M University in 2005, as associate dean and professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Harris was later named the sixth dean in 2007. Under his leadership, the college implemented the College of Engineering Success Center, which focuses on the retention of engineering students by offering supplemental instruction for freshman and sophomore students enrolled in math, science and engineering courses.

As the dean of the college of engineering, one of his top priorities was to ensure that the college becomes one of the foremost engineering colleges in the nation. His long-term goal is to reach a level of achievement and recognition that places the college among the global leaders in engineering education, research and service. According to Harris he is on target with those achievements to date.

Harris, who has consistently held joint faculty appointments in aerospace and mechanical engineering departments, assumes the helm of a college that is widely known for producing top black engineers. His efforts have garnered more than $3.2 million in research and program funding. Equipped with this expertise, he will now lead a college with more than 900 students.

Prior to joining the faculty at PVAMU, Harris served as associate professor and associate chairman for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. In this capacity, he managed the departmental budget, curriculum design, fellowships, scholarships and conducted research concerning heat transfer through porous materials, energy conservation and the cooling of electronic components.

While serving at the University of Texas at Arlington, Harris also directed the Loan Star Industrial Assessment Center in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, which provided energy, waste and productivity conservation assessments to various manufactures in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award from the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Harris holds the bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Kansas, the master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the Naval Aviation Officer School as a U.S. naval officer and aviator. His research has been published in publications such as the Journal of Electronic Packaging, the Journal of Porous Media and the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. Harris is married to Shundra, who is a design teacher in the School of Art and Architecture at Prairie View A&M University.

The breakfast is open to the men of the community. Please call 936-857-3272 or email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net to confirm attendance.

You will have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments on issues you feel that impact young people today.

You are also invited to fellowship with the members in their Bible Study on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship service at 11:00 a.m. and refreshments.