Jennifer L. Harris, Ph.D., brings more than two decades of leadership in early childhood education, mental health, and nonprofit administration to her role as Chief Executive Officer of Hanna Perkins Center.
A passionate advocate for child development and family-centered support, Harris has led organizations through transformational growth while maintaining commitment to their core missions. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Rainey Institute, where she expanded access to high-quality arts programming for more than 1,500 children annually, secured major capital and operational funding, and led a successful cultural and organizational renewal.
Prior to that, Harris directed the Oberlin Early Childhood Center, earning national accreditation and founding the OberlinKids Community Collaborative—an initiative uniting 15 agencies to improve kindergarten readiness. Her earlier roles include program leadership positions at Achievement Centers for Children and two Head Start agencies, where she developed innovative service models to support children with disabilities and mental health needs.
In addition to her administrative experience, Harris has taught at Cleveland State University, Ashland University, and Lorain County Community College, sharing her expertise in child development and education.
Harris earned her Ph.D. in Urban Education and M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University, and a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Ohio University. A native Ohioan, she brings deep knowledge of the region’s educational landscape and a lifelong commitment to serving children and families.
