Nancy Harris, Ph.D.

I was raised in Marblehead, Massachusetts, attended a variety of public and private schools, and my first stab at higher education was Boston University. I left after my freshman year and worked at a variety of rather predictable jobs: ophthalmological assistant, peace activist, democratic state committee secretary, and aid to Charlie Byrd, the jazz and classical guitarist. After protesting against the Vietnam war for 9 months I met and married, soon followed by the birth of my two wonderful, intelligent and accomplished daughters. After 10 years of volunteering I returned to college: Manhattanville. It was here that I learned how to learn and how sociology explained the world to me in ways that I could finally understand. After completing my BA at the Ville, I went to NYU and received my MA and PhD in sociology. My areas of concentration were research methods, sports and family. For the last 23 or so years I have enjoyed teaching at Manhattanville and being part of a wonderful community which is committed to gender equality and social justice.