Paul and Rene in Dingle, Ireland.
Biography
I joined the ASU faculty in the fall of 1998. I have over ten years full-time teaching experience to include teaching at Auburn University, The University of Muenster, Germany and Augusta State University. Further, while a graduate student at Georgia Southern University, I assisted in teaching large sections of American Government classes.
My primary teaching responsibilities include: Introduction to American Government, State and Local Government Administration, The American Presidency, and Government Organization and Administrative Theory. In addition, I am also a member of the department's MPA (Master of Public Administration core committee and teach graduate level courses in State Government Administration, Urban Policy and Politics, Intergovernmental Relations, and Policy Analysis. In Fall 2001, I developed and taught an on-line course titled: U.S. - E.U. Relations with faculty at the University of Munich, Germany. The course is part of the University System of Georgia's European Union Studies Certificate Program. My teaching load is four courses per semester.
On top of my teaching and research duties, I serve as faculty advisor to the university's Political Science Club. The club is quite active in campus affairs registering students to vote, holding mock elections, and, providing many other public service activities. From 2003-2005 I served as the ASU Chapter President of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Finally, I serve as Chair of the Abstract Review Committee for ASU's Annual Phi Kappa Phi Student Research and Fine Arts Conference held each spring.
In addition, I served as Chair of the university's Faculty Policies Committee for academic year 2001-2002. The committee is responsible for developing, reviewing, and recommending policies governing faculty selection, promotion, and tenure, with faculty rights and responsibilities and their communication. I am also the Fulbright Program Advisor for the campus providing advice, guidance and administrative support to students interested in applying for a Fulbright Grant to Study Abroad. Mark Lockard, a 2002 Political Science Graduate of Augusta State University, studied at the University of Muenster, Germany as a Fulbright Student Scholar during academic year 2002-2003 and during academic year 2004-2005 Uzoma Anadu, a 2004 Political Science graduate of Augusta State University was awarded a Fulbright to study at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. Most recently, Nadia Jilani, a 2005 Political Science graduate of Augusta State University, conducted research and taught at the Institute for Political Science at the University of Muenster for academic year 2005-2006.
Prior to joining the faculty at Augusta State, I was a visiting professor at the University of Muenster, Germany academic year 1997-1998 where I taught American Government and The American Presidency to German students. My visiting professorship was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellow Program. The Friedrich Ebert Foundation is closely affiliated with Germany's Social Democratic Party and is committed to the principles of social democracy. At present Augusta State University and the University of Muenster have entered a formal exchange program where students and faculty from both institutions have the opportunity to teach and study.
Between 1992 and 1997, I was a graduate student at Auburn University, Alabama working on my Ph.D. in public administration and public policy. I was awarded the doctorate in June 1997 graduating summa cum laude (4.0). At the same time I was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and received the Graduate Dean's Award for Excellence (a distinction bestowed on the top-ten students in my graduating class).
During my five years at Auburn I taught courses in State and Local Government, American Government, International Political Economy, Western European Politics and International Relations. In academic year 1993-1994 I served as the graduate student assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School. The following year, 1994-1995 I was awarded a Fulbright Grant to conduct dissertation research at the University of Muenster, Germany. In addition to my research responsibilities, I taught two classes in American Government and I took an active part in the department's graduate seminars. It was during this time-period when I refined my research to address the phenomena of Soviet Jewish immigration to Germany. Upon my return to Auburn in the fall of 1995 I began to teach and write-up my research findings.
I am a 1991 graduate of Georgia Southern University's MPA program. While a graduate student at GSU, I assisted the departmental faculty in teaching large sections of American Government.
Between 1984-1989 I worked for the U.S. Army Europe and the U.S. Air Force Europe as a community field representative for the University of Maryland University College Military Programs. It was during this time I met my wife Renee in Wiesbaden, Germany. For the next five years I worked at the following bases / posts: Rose Barracks, Bad Kreuznach; Rhein Main Air Base, Frankfurt; Lindsey Air Station, Wiesbaden, and Wiesbaden Air Base. As a field representative I was responsible for advising soldiers, airmen and their families on the educational opportunities available on post and for overall program management. Renee, still works for the University of Maryland at the Wiesbaden Air Base.
I attended Aquinas High School in Augusta, GA, but graduated from North Augusta High School, North Augusta, SC in 1981.
My research interests are the policies and politics of international immigration. In particular, Russian-speaking Jewish and Ethnic German repatriate immigration to Germany. My research examines the role of history, culture and politics in the formulation and adoption of immigration policy. In addition, I am keenly interested in the administrative capacity of states such as Germany and the U.S. to manage large-scale migration flows. I recently co-authored a book on the subject titled, "Building a Diaspora: Russian Jews in Israel, Germany, and the USA", published by Brill Academic Press.
In addition, I have authored several book chapters and journal articles (in English, German and French).
Currently I am engaged in a project examining Latino immigration to the State of Georgia with my colleague and friend, Dr. Bill Baker, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Kennesaw State University. The project is funded through the ASU Center for Immigration Studies.
Should you have questions about any of my research, or wish to obtain copies of my papers please do not hesitate to contact me - several copies are accessible through this website.
When I am not teaching in Augusta, I am likely to be in Germany conducting scholarly research and visiting my wife, Renee. I can be reached at harris@aug.edu or tallpaul63@yahoo.com.
One final note. Augusta State University is a great place to teach! Our students are diverse in race, background, age, and preparation and they rise to the academic challenges normally associated with elite, private institutions. Our faculty are excellent teachers, active researchers and generous in service to the University and the community. I am privileged to be part of such an august body of students, teachers and scholars.