Alex Harris

Alex Harris is a Professor of the Practice of Public Policy and Documentary Studies at Duke University, with a career spanning documentary photography, public policy research, and editorial leadership. He currently serves as the Creative Director of the Lewis Hine Documentary Fellows Program within Duke's Center for Documentary Studies.

Educational Background:

• Yale University (A.B., 1971)

Harris specializes in documentary photography, focusing on the American South, Cuba, and Alaska. His work explores themes of cultural identity, social documentation, and visual storytelling, often bridging photography with public policy analysis.

Publication Trends reflect his interdisciplinary approach, encompassing books and articles on regional sociology, indigenous communities, and environmental studies. His photographic essays span decades, documenting Southern urban life, Hispanic traditions in New Mexico, and post-Katrina recovery efforts.

Scientific Awards include:

• Guggenheim Fellowship in Photography
• Rockefeller Foundation Humanities Fellowship
• Lyndhurst Prize

Grants include projects on international migration (2002) and the Dan Eldon Exhibit and Symposium (1994). Harris co-founded Duke's Center for Documentary Studies (1989) and launched DoubleTake Magazine (1995-1998), further shaping his legacy in documentary education.