Influential Woman · Higher Education
Lorena B. Harris, Ph.D.
Biology Assistant Professor, SUNY Schenectady County Community College
Schenectady, NY 12309
Celebrating tiny wins by writing down one good thing you did each day trains your brain to look for your successes instead of your flaws.
Lorena B. Harris, Ph.D. · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Lorena
Lorena B. Harris, Ph.D. is a Biology Assistant Professor at SUNY Schenectady County Community College and serves as CSTEP Co-Principal Investigator and program director focused on expanding access to STEM education for underrepresented and financially disadvantaged students. With over a decade of experience in higher education, she has built and led grant-funded initiatives that support student success through mentorship, academic enrichment, and structured pathway programs in science and technology fields. She is also an active member of professional networks such as the National Girls Collaborative Project and the Association for Program Administrators of CSTEP and STEP (APACS), contributing to broader efforts in STEM equity and education reform. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Bowling Green State University, followed by a NIH Fellowship where she conducted postdoctoral research in genome stability and cancer biology at the University of South Florida. Her academic and research background in molecular and cellular biology informs her teaching practice, particularly in strengthening students’ foundational understanding of life sciences and laboratory methods. Over time, she transitioned from research-focused roles into education, where she now integrates scientific training with student development and program leadership. Throughout her career, Harris has focused on mentoring students from early education through college, with a strong emphasis on increasing participation of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. She is recognized for developing from its inception at SUNY Schenectady the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), a New York State–funded initiative that has helped students pursue careers in medicine, research, engineering, and education. Her work emphasizes collaboration, persistence, and community-based learning, reflecting a commitment to building supportive academic environments that strengthen long-term student outcomes in STEM pathways.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lorena
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family first, especially my resilient mom and dad, and to being inspired by others like those in the National Girls Collaborative Project who showed me there is a path and I am not alone.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
By taking initiative, advocating for yourself, tracking results, and pursuing work that excites you, you can build a fulfilling and resilient career. Maintaining relationships, seeking growth, and appreciating progress ensures long-term success while navigating the inevitable twists and turns of professional life.
Be persistent, be resilient, be you! Dream Big!
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I advise young women to dream big, be persistent and resilient, never give up, and not let anyone tell them they cannot do something you are passionate about it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The opportunities include learning to work with new tools like AI without letting it overtake us. Challenges involve getting enough people on the table to support each other, inspire others, and be kind even in difficult moments.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values are collaboration, integrity, gratitude, discipline and supporting each other, being kind, and mentoring the next generation of students and women in science.
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