Dr. Bennie L. Harris serves as chancellor of University of South Carolina Upstate, assuming leadership on July 1, 2021. 

Harris joined USC Upstate after serving since 2014 as senior vice president for Institutional Advancement at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), where he was responsible for institutional advancement, partnership expansion and external affairs. 

Harris holds the bachelor of sciences degree in industrial engineering from Mississippi State University, the MBA in strategic marketing from Washington State University and a doctorate of philosophy in educational leadership and marketing from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  He has held leadership positions in institutional advancement at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN, DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Washington State University. Over the course of his advancement career, he has raised more than $346 million. Also, while at Washington State University, he served as the director for the Center for Human Rights.  Harris has worked with a number of organizations facilitating conversations and strategic plans around leadership development, diversity, healthcare and health equity.

Dr. Harris is involved in several local and national organizations such as Leadership Atlanta, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Executive Director of Phi Beta Sigma International Leadership Academy, Atlanta Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors, Lipscomb University Board of Trustees, America Association of Medical Colleges Development Council, CASE Faculty, among a few.  Harris is frequently sought to speak on fundraising, strategic planning, diversity and leadership development at various nonprofits, higher education and other institution seeking to improve and build capacity.

Dr. Harris is married to Frankie Andrea Harris and together they have three adult children, Bria, Bennie II, and Branden.