Southeast names new Dean of Advancement and PR

Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College has named Dr. Lee Harrison as the new dean of advancement and PR. She also will serve as executive director of the Southeast Education Foundation.

In her role at SKCTC, Harrison is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the resource development, marketing and communication team of the college and overseeing day-to-day operations of the foundation, which raises private support for college programs and needs.

“Dr. Harrison already has added tremendous value to Southeast and we are thankful to have her as a vital part of the leadership team moving us forward,” said Dr. Patsy Jackson, interim president. “She is a seasoned professional with a strong track record for effective collaboration and a proven commitment to high quality results.”

Harrison brings 30 years of experience in higher education to SKCTC. She served 19 years in vice president roles overseeing marketing, communications and enrollment management at Milligan University in Johnson City, Tennessee. During that time, she led teams that achieved record enrollments, retention and graduation rates above national averages and award-winning marketing strategies. She also has worked in institutional advancement, student development, and on the communications faculty at Milligan.

In her most recent role as vice president for partner services at Clark Higher Ed, she provided project management for digital marketing and enrollment work with over a dozen institutions throughout the United States.

“I have grown to love and respect Southeast Kentucky,” said Harrison, who recently has been active with the Tri-Cities KY Main Street program and is communications chair for Harlan Cub Scout Pack 149. “SKCTC is blessed with people committed to the success of students and the region. I’m honored to serve alongside them in that mission.”

Harrison earned a doctorate in higher education leadership and management and a master’s in organizational communication from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her bachelor’s degree in public relations is from Milligan University.

She completed the Executive Leadership Institute of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and University Association (TICUA), which seeks to prepare the next generation of leaders for college or university executive roles. She also has completed the Institute for Research on Higher Education at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration at Bryn Mawr College and the Executive Development Institute in Finance and Accounting at Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.

Harrison and her husband, Jeff, and son, Blake, live in Cumberland, Kentucky.

To discuss potential gifts, grant opportunities and community collaborations with SKCTC, contact Harrison at 606.589.3152 or lee.harrison@kctcs.edu.