Arts retirees in 2021 - Dr. Judith Harris
Tue. Oct. 5, 2021
This year saw the retirement of four of our professors, all of whom are outstanding both in their respective fields and as teachers and mentors. Knowing they'll be greatly missed this fall, we asked some colleagues, friends, and former students to share some thoughts.
Today, we highlight one of these remarkable people, Dr. Judith Harris (UIC).
Dr. Jaqueline McLeod Rogers is Professor and Chair of the Department of Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications. She says, "Collaborative projects with Judith Harris are among my best memories of working at the U."
Dr. Judith Harris retired as Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies as of June 30, 2021. Her colleagues and collaborators offer these thoughts and heartfelt wishes to her, noting her passion for, and success in, building community in partnership with the University.
Dr. Shauna MacKinnon, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies: "Judith Harris brought a strong commitment to community development to the department of Urban and Inner-City Studies. She was deeply committed to the University of Winnipeg Walls-to-Bridges program where she worked diligently with colleagues to bring university courses to incarcerated students. Judith mentored many students and worked extensively in the Spence neighbourhood, demonstrating her commitment to community engaged scholarship and the importance of building bridges between the university and the community."
Dr. Chantal Fiola, Associate Professor in the Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies and Distinguished Indigenous Scholar's Chair: "I fondly recall Dr. Judith Harris’s passionate efforts to build and better community, including her work with the Little Stars Playhouse, a safe place for families and children in Winnipeg’s North End. For many years, Judy also dedicated herself to creating opportunities for education among justice-involved women and taught many courses inside institutions of incarceration."
Dr. Kevin Walby, Professor, Department of Criminal Justice: "Dear Judith. Thanks for doing so much to make our university and the community around it a better place. Thanks for doing so much to make Walls to Bridges happen in Winnipeg. I have really appreciated working with you the past several years and I have learned a lot from you. Thanks for everything you have done and for all of your amazing energy and wisdom. You are a great person."
Dr. Glenn Moulaison, Dean of Arts: "Dr. Harris's passion for community and pedagogical innovation showed in her work with the Spence neighbourhood, as well as with the W2B program, for which she was the driving force. I suspect that her passion will continue to engage her."
Dr. Jaqueline McLeod Rogers, Professor and Chair, Department of Rhetoric, Writing, and Communications: "Collaborative projects with Judith Harris are among my best memories of working at the U. She is imaginative, insightful, energetic, and dedicated—developing co-ops and community gardening and provisioning carceral education and inner-city day care to build more equitable community. Happily, she is continuing with much of this work."