[5] Harris was the former senior associate dean at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences and a former deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

He played an important role in Reimagining Cornell, a strategic initiative aimed at the financial and administrative reconstruction of the university.

[7] In 2010, Harris joined the Obama administration as deputy assistant secretary for human services policy.

After, he returned as senior associate dean of Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences.

[8][9] In 2018, Harris was selected for honoris causa membership in Omicron Delta Kappa at Union College.