THE POWER OF FAITH
Reverend Elder Dorothy Parrish-Harris
Assistant Vice President, Dean of Students
Coppin State University
By Kevin E. Taylor
Coppin State University was founded in 1900 at what was then called Colored High School. Coppin State University (Coppin) is a public historically black university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is part of the University System of Maryland and a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The Reverend Elder Dorothy Parrish-Harris is the university’s new Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students–the latter position has never been held by anyone at this HBCU and its first is a Black lesbian preacher.
“I am the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at Coppin State University. I am the inaugural Dean of Students. They’ve not had a Dean of Students in their 100 plus years of existence. Apparently, they didn’t find a need for that (and I’m not sure of the history around that), but I do know that the new administration has decided that it would be beneficial to have a Dean of Students. They put out a search and I applied and got the job.”
But the story of applying for the job shows the power of faith and a good kitchen table talk with people you trust. Pastor Parrish-Harris was talking with her sister-in-law, who asked her if she had considered going back into academia at the dean level, where she had earlier served in her career. Parrish-Harris’ response was noncommittal, with retirement just a few years off. Her sister-in-law, who is also in the academic field, strongly suggested that she reconsider, noting that “the schools need someone like you–you’re an administrator and an educator, but you’re also a pastor. And you have a way of pastoring entire groups of people. She said it in a way that was not about doctrine, but it was about caring, leading with care. And it really resonated with me.” But she left the conversation still coasting forward, but later returned to it, talking to God and saying “If something’s available, then I’ll apply for it.” A search online for “DEAN POSITIONS IN MARYLAND” and the position, which was originally for Dean of Students, popped up but was already closed, but still posted, which let Parrish-Harris know that it must not have been filled because it would have been taken down. “Even if it’s closed, if it’s hanging out there, there’s still a possibility.” She applied and got a call back quickly and weeks later, she was offered the position. Powerfully, her sister-in-law’s conversation was about the general statement, without any idea that there was this opportunity. The administration of the university determined that based on her experience and qualifications, they would make her both Assistant Vice President AND Dean of Students. “And when they offered it, they came back a couple of weeks later and noted that they were changing the title to merge two positions. I think that this HBCU seems ready!
Dean Parrish-Harris tells a great story that might help someone who looks like her believe that impossible is possible. “I applied for a few positions in New England. I received an offer to do a fellowship at the University of Maine at Farmington and I also interviewed for a director’s level position at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. I got the offer for the fellowship before I got the offer for the position. I took the fellowship and I told them that I wanted to do it. The VP told me I was everyone’s #1 choice. And then she said, almost with uncertainty, that ‘I don’t think we can hold the position for you for a year?’ and I said ‘yes, you can.’ I knew that there was an offer on the table and she raised the question, even though she wasn’t sure that they could do it. They did. They held the position for a year!”
“I’ve been rejected from a lot of places because I am a masculine presenting, out, Black lesbian woman. I have applied for positions at higher level, larger institutions and was the final candidate and got a call that they went in another direction or they didn’t call at all. I’ve had so many rejections that I didn’t expect to get a YES. I’ve considered myself underemployed for the last 10 years. I know that this school taking this step was a big leap, but why should I have to hold their decision in such high esteem, just because they hired a masculine presenting Black lesbian woman, and yet I am proud of them for doing it!”
A career educator, she has worked in higher education for over 40 years with positions in Enrollment Management, Disability Support Services, Academic Advising, Academic services and Student support at colleges and universities throughout the East Coast. She also teaches English and Communication at local colleges. She has earned several awards and commendations throughout her career. A lifelong learner, she received B.A. and M.A. degrees in English, American Studies, and Women’s Studies from the University of Buffalo, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore, and is currently enrolled in the M.Div. program at Chicago Theological Seminary. She loves reading, writing, traveling, playing word games, and spending time with her family. Rev. Elder Parrish-Harris is married to Willette Parrish-Harris, is the proud mother of Azubike, Chioma and Josiah and a doting grandmother of two years old Grace Kelechi.
