Robert S. Harris, FAIA, was an Architect, an American professor of architecture, a former Dean, and a civic leader and urbanist.
Harris was elected as the President of the American Institute of Architecture Students during his college years, exhibiting leadership skills at an early age.
Bob's major challenge at this point was mending fences with the practice community while moving the school from a regional institution to one with an international reputation.
Bob was an extraordinary academic leader and positioned the school between the growing support of the local professional community and the university's desire to become an elite international institution.
[6] His personality and his advocacy for "giving back" led to several endowed chairs and funds for major remodeling projects including the library, a school center, a shop and additional office space for faculty.
Architecture was a relatively small program in comparison with business and engineering, but Bob was elected to serve as the chairman of the Council of Deans overseeing the efforts of all 20 schools at USC.
As the President of the Urban Design Advisory Coalition and co-chair of the Mayors Design Advisory Committee, Robert continued to work with city officials, guiding the selection of architects for significant civic and arts buildings such as the Disney Concert Hall and the Los Angeles Cathedral.
Harris also actively supported local and national professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), where he served as president in 1972/73.