Michele Harris

I am currently serving as the Associate Dean and Professor at the College of Sciences and Mathematics in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Stephen F. Austin State University. I earned my Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Arkansas in 1994, after completing my B.S. at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1990.

My professional journey has been diverse, from being the Pruitt Professor of Patent Education since 2021, where I developed and taught courses in intellectual property and patent application, to my current role as Associate Dean, where I supervise the CoSM Advising Center, handle academic integrity issues, and mentor programs like iHUGS (Increasing Hispanic and Underrepresented Groups in STEM).

Previously, I served as the Assistant Chair and Graduate Advisor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Stephen F. Austin State University, where I organized departmental procedures, recruited students, and ensured departmental and graduate school requirements were met.

As a professor, I have taught a wide range of courses, from introductory chemistry to advanced biochemistry. I was selected to lead the intellectual property initiative for the CoSM and developed courses in this area. I also led departmental efforts to gain approval for a B.S. in Biochemistry.

My research experience at Stephen F. Austin State University since 1994 has been extensive, focusing on a variety of projects, all utilizing undergraduate research students. My research topics range from protein-protein interaction between cytochrome f and plastocyanin to bioremediation of waste produced in the organic chemistry laboratory.

I have presented my research findings at numerous conferences and have several peer-reviewed publications to my credit. I have also been involved in filing patent applications and have been awarded grants for my research projects. I am a proud recipient of the URC Mentor of the Year award in 2019 and was nominated for the Lifetime Achievement in Teaching. I am an active member of the American Chemical Society.