Danville Community College (DCC) announced this week that TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers Project Director Sharon Harris has been named as the new president of the Virginia Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (VAEOPP).
Founded in 1975, VAEOPP’s goal is to increase college accessibly for target area Virginia residents by providing services to persons who are educationally, culturally, and/or economically disadvantaged and those with disabilities.
Providing a forum and training for its members and institutions, VAEOPP currently has more than 50 TRIO program members. The 7 national TRIO programs include Upward Bound, Upward Bound: Math/Science, Veteran’s Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, Educational Opportunity Centers, Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program and one TRIO Training program.
Harris has served as TRIO EOC Project Director since 2011 and is an advocate for first generation, low-income individuals desiring to attend college. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University and an MBA from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Harris previously served as VAEOPP president-elect, secretary, assistant secretary, and assistant treasurer and has served on and chaired numerous VAEOPP & MEAEOPP committees.
In September, Harris was awarded Most Valuable Player for Recognition of Outstanding Service during the 2021 Fair Share Campaign for the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP) region during the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) Conference in Atlanta, Ga.
Installed on October 5, Harris will represent VAEOPP at all MEAEOPP and COE meetings and conferences. For more information regarding the TRIO Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Centers Program, call 434-797-8577 or visit danville.edu/trio. For more information on the Virginia Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, visit www.vaeopp.org.
Danville Community College is a two-year institution of higher education under the statewide Virginia Community College System. DCC's service area includes the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. For more information about the College’s nearly 100 programs of study, visit www.danville.edu.