For over 30 years, Mr. Harris was associated with Bingham, Dana, LLP, one of the nation’s leading law firms. Achieving senior partner with emphases in corporate finance and acquisitions, Mr. Harris also served as the chairman of the firm. Following his retirement, he was appointed executive director of the Massachusetts Industrial Finance Agency to stimulate economic development in the state. In recent years he has been an independent business consultant, and has completed the furniture artisan program of the North Bennett Street School of Boston.

Mr. Harris has served the College as an Alumni-in-Admissions volunteer, an OCS Career Advisor, and Reunion Gift Leader. He has also participated as a guest lecturer in economics courses taught at the College. A member of the Board of Trustees since 1983, Mr. Harris served as the first chair of the Board’s Legal Affairs Committee, and as the Chair of the Search Committee in 1988-89 which brought President Donald W. Harward to Bates.

Mr. Harris is married to Shirley Scholnick Harris, for many years a medical social worker in Massachusetts; they have three children: Marjorie, Lisa, and Wendy Harris Garber, Bates Class of 1989, and four grandchildren.