College of Education Voices

Bernard Harris, M.D.

2008 Award of Distinction Honoree

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The College of Education's 2008 Award of Distinction honoree, Bernard Harris, M.D., Defines himself as a "dreamer who believes nothing is impossible." An accomplished NASA astronaut, physician and businessman, he currently serves as president of The Harris Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization he founded in 1998 to develop math/science education and crime prevention programs for America's youth.

In 1990, he was selected as a NASA astronaut and flew his first mission three years later. A payload commander of STS-63, the first flight of the joint Russian-American space program, Harris accomplished his childhood dream by completing a walk in space, becoming the "First African American to walk in Space." Harris has developed a broad range of business talents. He is currently chief executive officer and managing partner of Vesalius Ventures, a venture capital firm created for diversified investments, targeting large but unmet market needs, compelling technologies, exceptional management teams and superior companies.

A native Texan born in 1956, Harris earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Houston and later obtained a doctorate of medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. A trained aerospace flight surgeon, he completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic and fellowship at the NASA Ames Research Center. Other degrees include a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston Clear Lake and two Honorary Doctorate of Science degrees from Morehouse School of Medicine and Stony Brook University (SUNY).

His remarks were delivered during the college's annual "Celebration of Education in Oklahoma."

This page last updated: Oct 13, 2008