[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO DR. BEVERLY ``JO'' HARRIS

  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize and commend the 
outstanding career of Dr. Beverly ``Jo'' Harris, one of the State of 
West Virginia's most respected educators, on the occasion of her 
retirement. During her tenure as the first president of BridgeValley 
Community and Technical College, Dr. Harris has shown tremendous 
passion and dedication to her students, colleagues, and her community. 
Her commitment to education has been an inspiration to many citizens of 
our State.
  Dr. Harris obtained her undergraduate degree from Concord College and 
a master's degree from Marshall University. She then received a 
doctoral degree in educational administration from West Virginia 
University. Dr. Harris began her career in education at a proprietary 
school in Morgantown before being hired by West Virginia Institute of 
Technology in 1975 as an instructor in the school's newly created 
associate degree business program. She has continued to work in the 
same building in Montgomery throughout many changes to both the school 
and her role.
  Under Dr. Harris's leadership, the school, formerly known as 
Bridgemont Community and Technical College, was nationally recognized 
as the fourth fastest growing small public 2-year college of 2010, was 
a finalist for the 2011 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, 
and selected as one of 2013's Top 50 Community Colleges in America 
according to ``Washington Monthly.'' Her efforts were later recognized 
when she received the WVCCA Leadership Award, the WVBEA Business 
Teacher of the Year award, and she was jointly named Upper Kanawha 
Valley Citizen of the Year, along with her husband, Carl.
  In addition to her official role as president, Dr. Harris has also 
served on the boards of the SMART 529 College Savings Program, WV 
Workforce Development Council, New River Gorge Regional Development 
Authority, the Upper Kanawha Valley Economic Development Corporation, 
Region 4 Planning and Development Council, South Charleston Rotary, and 
the Fayette County and South Charleston chambers of commerce.
  I have had the pleasure of working with Jo throughout my time 
representing the state of West Virginia in Congress. I am proud to call 
her my friend and trusted colleague whose counsel will be missed. I am 
thankful for Dr. Harris's dedication to West Virginia's higher 
education system and the many students she taught and mentored. Today, 
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Beverly ``Jo'' Harris 
for her service.

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