Mary Styles Harris
Encyclopedia
Mary Styles Harris, Ph.D.
(born June 26, 1949) is an American geneticist
.
, June 26, 1949 to George and Margaret Styles. George was a doctor, and it was his career that sparked Harris' early interest in science. George died when Harris was 9 years old. When Harris entered Miami Jackson High School she was one of the first African Americans to enroll. In 1967, she graduated twelfth in her class of 350.
At Lincoln University
in Pennsylvania Harris was one of the first women to enroll. The male students were surprised to see Harris in their advanced algebra and organic chemistry classes. She spent most of her time with pre-med students, with the goal of attending medical school. Her father's colleagues reserved Harris a place at the University of Miami
Medical School, but she did not accept it. She did not want to treat people, she wanted to do research.
Harris graduated from Lincoln University
in 1971, and then enrolled at Cornell University
where she studied molecular genetics. Harris graduated with her doctorate in 1975. Harris then went on to do Postdoctoral study at Rutgers University
.
Harris has dedicated her professional life to researching and providing health care information and education for the minority population. She has spent most of her professional career involved in the application and transfer of basic research to the health care field.
Harris has experience as a graduate and medical school teacher and she has had articles published in scientific and medical journals. Harris has directed a statewide screening program, been on grant review committees, and has provided private consulting for private laboratories and health organizations. Harris has produced television and radio shows, and she hosts a radio show, Journey To Wellness, and has developed a documentary, To My Sisters... A Gift For Life.
Harris' interest in preventive health care has led her to get involved in new born screening of Sickle-cell disease
and sitting on the Atlanta
board of the March of Dimes
.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(born June 26, 1949) is an American geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
.
Early life
Harris was born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, June 26, 1949 to George and Margaret Styles. George was a doctor, and it was his career that sparked Harris' early interest in science. George died when Harris was 9 years old. When Harris entered Miami Jackson High School she was one of the first African Americans to enroll. In 1967, she graduated twelfth in her class of 350.
At Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
in Pennsylvania Harris was one of the first women to enroll. The male students were surprised to see Harris in their advanced algebra and organic chemistry classes. She spent most of her time with pre-med students, with the goal of attending medical school. Her father's colleagues reserved Harris a place at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
Medical School, but she did not accept it. She did not want to treat people, she wanted to do research.
Harris graduated from Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...
in 1971, and then enrolled at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
where she studied molecular genetics. Harris graduated with her doctorate in 1975. Harris then went on to do Postdoctoral study at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
Career
- Sickle Cell Foundation of GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Executive Director, 1977–79 - Morehouse CollegeMorehouse CollegeMorehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
, Assistant professor, 1978 - Atlanta UniversityClark Atlanta UniversityClark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
, Assistant professor, 1980–81 - GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
Department of Human Resources, Director of genetic services - Harris and Associates, Founder, President, until 1987
- BioTechnical Communications, President.
- Founder, President, and Executive Producer of Journey to Wellness
Harris has dedicated her professional life to researching and providing health care information and education for the minority population. She has spent most of her professional career involved in the application and transfer of basic research to the health care field.
Harris has experience as a graduate and medical school teacher and she has had articles published in scientific and medical journals. Harris has directed a statewide screening program, been on grant review committees, and has provided private consulting for private laboratories and health organizations. Harris has produced television and radio shows, and she hosts a radio show, Journey To Wellness, and has developed a documentary, To My Sisters... A Gift For Life.
Harris' interest in preventive health care has led her to get involved in new born screening of Sickle-cell disease
Sickle-cell disease
Sickle-cell disease , or sickle-cell anaemia or drepanocytosis, is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder with overdominance, characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various...
and sitting on the Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
board of the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
.
Awards
- National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
for a Science Residency Award. - GlamourGlamour (magazine)Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
Magazine's Outstanding Working Woman Award, 1980.
Sources
- American Men and Women and Science. 16th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill), p. 521.
- Blacks in Science and Education. Vivian O. Sammons. (Washington, D.C.: Hemisphere Publishers), 1989. p. 112-113.