The Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics mourns the profound loss on October 5 of Dr. Kevin Harris, a dedicated leader and advocate who helped shepherd our community beginning in May 2022. Kevin’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity education leaves a lasting legacy within the Consortium.
While his work for cybersecurity clinics was just part of his broader leadership in the community, we want to share a window into what he meant to those who knew him as a friend and colleague in the Consortium.
Kevin was a trailblazer when he launched a cybersecurity clinic at Stillman College, the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to adopt the clinic model. Under his leadership, the DEI Cybersecurity Clinic at Stillman focused on building a diverse pipeline into the workforce and supporting underserved small- to mid-sized, minority-owned organizations.
His vision and commitment to creating new opportunities for historically underrepresented communities resonated deeply with the Consortium’s mission. His message to other HBCUs was simple yet powerful: “If we could do it at Stillman, you can do it, too.”
Kevin quickly became a mentor for smaller schools, liberal arts programs, and minority-serving institutions, especially HBCUs, seeking to start clinics. He served as a spokesperson on the Consortium’s “What is a Cybersecurity Clinic?” video, helped lead our first Cyber Clinics Training Workshop, and served on the Consortium’s Clinics Fundraising Subcommittee.
“Kevin Harris joined the Consortium when it included only a handful of university-based cybersecurity clinics, and he was instrumental in shaping the Consortium’s mission and values,” said Ann Cleaveland, Co-Chair of the Consortium. “He will be remembered for many things, but most of all for giving his time so generously to inspire and advocate for under-represented students and client organizations to engage in community-based cybersecurity.”
“Dr. Harris played a pivotal role in Google’s decision to provide $500,000 to Stillman College in support of the first cybersecurity clinic at an HBCU,” said Maab Ibrahim, Cybersecurity Lead at Google.org, Google’s philanthropy. “His leadership inspired and facilitated our funding for additional clinics at Minority-Serving Institutions across the Consortium, which now includes four other HBCUs, as well as tribal and women-serving colleges — a legacy that will forever honor his memory.”
Dr. Harris was dedicated to building a more inclusive field and boosting HBCUs as marquee cybersecurity training institutions. At the time of his passing, he was creating a community of practice within the Consortium for HBCUs to meet and share best practices, just a year after launching Stillman’s own clinic.
Ameerreia Campbell was one among many students at Stillman who participated in the clinic and benefitted from Kevin’s mentorship and guidance. “Without Dr. Harris’ influence I would never have been exposed to the opportunities and the great community in cybersecurity that I’ve been blessed to experience because of his generosity,” Campbell says. “I will never forget speaking at the Cyber Civil Defense Summit this past summer because he challenged me to take on that opportunity, or all the ways he guided me and other students to grow and develop under his mentorship.”
We invite you to watch the “What is a Cybersecurity Clinic?” video, learn more about the HBCU Cybersecurity Clinic Center, read the Forbes article on Kevin’s work at Stillman College, and read a Q&A with Kevin, as featured by the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN).
The Consortium’s leadership team and member institutions have been blessed to work with Dr. Harris over the years, and more so to call him a dear friend. He will continue to inspire our members, students, and clients for years to come.
An obituary and guestbook to record reflections and memories on Dr. Harris is available at https://www.newgenerationfh.com/obituary/kevin-harris.
