“She had such a large skill set that crossed all divisions: from drawing, life drawing, sculpture, video, and art history in the Middle and Upper Schools to Lower School art in Classes III and IV. She was a devoted advisor to many and a passionate advocate for the rights of African American women and all women, in general. Her enthusiasm for her students and her work with them was infectious and she was always looking for ways to make art and art history fun and relatable. She was a great conversationalist, a generous colleague and brought a joyful demeanor to the classroom and department meetings. She is greatly missed.” —Caroline Hastie, Art Department Chair

“The last time I shared space with Ms. Harris, I told her how important her presence was across so many generations. The message I was trying to convey, which I hope she understood, was that she helped us to see all the inspiration and beauty in this city we call home. For me, in a place so unfamiliar, she was home. I will be forever grateful to Ms. Harris for sharing her vision and for helping us to see the mundane as divine.” —Diana Ballesteros ’05

“When I first met Ms. Harris in high school, it was clear she was so much more than just a teacher. She was an inspirational, creative thinker and a free spirit. But even more, for a young Black woman like me, she was an icon. Back in my time at Nightingale, there weren’t many faces like mine among the faculty. So when Ms. Harris joined us, she made a lasting impression. She had a quiet power about her that I wanted to emulate and she was so compassionate, so generous with her time. Without knowing it before, I was hungry for someone like her in the Schoolhouse and she accepted my fascination with grace. I thought breathing as much of the air around her would make me as invincible as she seemed to be. In some ways, I think I was on to something because through my interactions with Ms. Harris, I became more confident in the person I was, embracing my quirks and all. Since graduating, I saw Ms. Harris a handful of times during visits to the Schoolhouse, each time feeling overcome with the same adoration I had in high school. I just wish I had taken advantage of spending more time with the friend I had gained. I hope she knew that though life got in the way of the dinners we’d promised one another, my love for her and her impact on my life never waned.” —Jessica Taylor Allen-Arney ’05