Dr. Mark E. Harris has been the High Point Campus Dean at Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) since January 2015. Before working at GTCC, Dr. Harris served as a principal in Guilford County Schools (GCS) for 10 years at Peeler Open School for the Performing Arts, Ferndale Middle School, and Murphey Traditional Academy. Prior to serving in the Principalship, Dr. Harris worked 8 years at High Point Central High School as Assistant Principal, Marine Corps Junior ROTC instructor, and as a baseball, swimming, and cross-country coach. He was named the Central Carolina Conference Coach of the Year five consecutive years in swimming and cross-country.
Before starting his education career, Dr. Harris spent 23 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a First Sergeant. Dr. Harris served in the infantry as a Scout Sniper, and in Special Operations at various Marine Reconnaissance Units. As a Force Recon Marine, he participated in combat operations in Liberia and Sierra Leon Africa, for OPERATION SHARPE EDGE; in Kuwait, for OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM; On the Iraq border for OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH, and South America for OPERATION UNITAS. Dr. Harris also served as the Executive Officer for OPERATION RALEIGH, a British Expedition to Chile South America, sponsored by HRH Prince Charles. He served 10 years as an instructor in adult military education as a Drill Instructor, as the assistant director at the Marine NCO School, Hawaii; as the Senior Enlisted Advisor at the Amphibious Reconnaissance Course in Coronado, California, and the GySgt’s Advanced Course at Camp Lejeune, NC. He was trained as a USMC Sniper, Special Forces (SF) Free Fall Parachutist, SF Special Operations Combat Diver, U.S. Army Ranger, U.S. Navy SEAL Long Range Maritime Operations, USMC Reconnaissance (Advanced and Basic Courses), and as a USMC Mountain Leader. His personal military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (GS), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (GS), Navy Achievement Medal (GS) w/Combat V, and the Combat Action Ribbon (GS).
Dr. Harris received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Ethics from John Wesley College (now Carolina University in Winston-Salem) as well as a Master’s degree in School Administration, and an Education Specialist degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Mark is the recipient of a Doctor of Humane Letters from John Wesley University, and a Doctor of Education Degree from High Point University. Dr. Harris is also a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership’s Education Leadership Development Program. Dr. Harris has been married for over 42 years to the former Donna Louise Mulanix of Pontiac, MI. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Guilford Technical Community College is the third largest of 58 institutions in the North Carolina Community College System. GTCC serves more than 35,000 students annually from five campuses and a Small Business Center. Learn more at www.gtcc.edu.