RELEASE: November 6, 2003

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UConn honors Harris with Distinguished Alum Award
State DHS Commissioner receives Alumni Association’s most prestigious award 

UConn honors Harris with Distinguished Alum Award State DHS Commissioner receives Alumni Association’s most prestigious award At an October 24th black tie gala in Hartford, Connecticut, New Jersey Department of Human Services Commissioner Gwendolyn Long Harris received the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2003 -- the
most prestigious award given by the University of Connecticut (UConn) Alumni Association. Harris received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UConn in 1972 and her master’s degree from the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago in 1974. She will soon receive her doctorate in Urban Planning and Policy Development from Rutgers University.

“We received literally dozens of nominations, and she was chosen by a committee of alumni leaders,” said John Feudo, executiven director of the University of Connecticut Alumni Association.

In his letter of support for her nomination, Governor James E. McGreevey wrote “I chose Commissioner Harris for my Cabinet because of her long and distinguished record of public service as well as for her professionalism and strong personal commitment to protecting our most vulnerable citizens… Over the past year, I have had an opportunity to work closely with Ms. Harris and witness first-hand why she is regarded as a national leader in
her field.”

Harris, 52, was born in Hartford, CT, but grew up in California, the daughter of a civil servant and a school social worker, who had been married by the late Dr. Martin Luther King. “I grew up in a home where there was a real ethic about helping people, about families and about community,” said Harris prior to the ceremony. It was the election of Kenneth T. Gibson, the first black mayor of a major city that drew her to Newark. “There was a spirit of wanting to go where you could make a contribution,” she said, “to where things were happening, where you were
needed.”

While in Newark, an early job as a psychiatric social worker at Martland Hospital nudged her toward management. Eight years with the division were followed by a period as program director of the New Community Corporation, a nonprofit economic development corporation. In 1990, she relocated to Trenton, where she worked in a series of roles – as director of the city’s Department of Health, business administrator and Mayor Douglas H. Palmer’s chief of staff – for more than a decade.

Then in 2002, Governor McGreevey appointed her to lead the state Human Services Department – a sprawling agency with an annual budget of $8.3 billion that administers programs for mental health, child support, disabilities and food stamps, among other initiatives, in addition to the child-welfare agency. Two years ago, she married Jerome C. Harris, a father of two, a former assistant secretary of state in the Florio administration and later an assistant state treasurer. Today, the couple lives in Trenton.

Almost a year ago, the associate editorial page editor and columnist for The [Trenton] Times, the Rev. Willie J. Smith described Harris’ style as a manner reflecting “the wisdom of African-American traditions – how to keep the faith during trying times, yet remain ready to soar like an eagle to one’s destination… an excellent choice for heading this department.

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