After receiving her B.A. from Lenoir Rhyne College, majoring in both sociology and history, Professor Harris received her M.A. degree from Duke University and her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 1976.

She joined the Wake Forest faculty in 1980. Her present teaching interests include Sociological Theory, Research Methods, Conflict Management in Organizations, Management in Organizations and Gender in Society. She won both the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Excellence in Advising Award.

She is the author of a number of articles on a wide range of topics. Most recently her work has focused on the study of the organizational management of medical malpractice. Publications in which her articles have appeared include the Journal of Health and SocialBehavior and a number of law reviews.

She has been active in professional organizations and is Past President of Alpha kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society. She won the Southern Sociological Society’s Distinguished Service Award in 2004.

She holds an appointment as a research associate at the Wake forest School of Law and, in the Medical School, as an associate in Medical Education.