Courtesy of Knoxville College
Rotesha Harris has been named the thirty-second president of historically black Knoxville College in Tennessee. He has served as the HBCU’s interim president since June following the resignation of former president Leonard Adams.
Knoxville College was founded in 1875 by the United Presbyterian Church of North America. At its peak in the 1960s, enrollment reached 1,200 students. The college lost its accreditation in 1997. By 2015, only 11 students were enrolled in the spring semester. That spring, Knoxville College announced it would hold no classes for the 2015-16 academic year. In 2018, the college started offering classes again, but only online. Last November, the campus was dealt another blow as its century-old administration building was destroyed by fire.
Dr. Harris brings two decades of professional experience to his new role, including experience in higher education administration, accounting, compliance and auditing. He previously served as assistant vice president of internal audit grants and contracts accounting at Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU in Georgia.
“I am honored to serve as the thirty-second president of Knoxville College,” said Dr. Harris. “As we approach our 150-year milestone, I am committed to ensuring that Knoxville College remains a beacon of opportunity and excellence. Together, we will strengthen our foundation and work hard to restore accreditation, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come.”
Dr. Harris Clark received his doctorate from Atlanta University.
