Angel Luis Harris

Angel Luis Harris is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, where he also serves as a Faculty Research Scholar of DuPRI's Population Research Center. His academic career focuses on understanding the complex interplay between race, social class, and educational outcomes, with particular attention to parental involvement in education and affirmative action policies.

Education

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2005)

Research Focus

Harris's work examines how structural factors like wealth disparities and racial discrimination shape educational opportunities and outcomes, particularly for Black and Latino students. His research challenges conventional wisdom about parental involvement and its effects on student achievement, revealing nuanced patterns that vary by race and social class. He has been particularly influential in debates about affirmative action, advocating for wealth-based approaches as alternatives to race-conscious policies.

Scientific Contributions

Harris's publication record shows consistent focus on educational inequality, with recent work examining group-level academic norms, immigrant selectivity, and the relationship between social class and educational attainment among Black students. His book "The Broken Compass: Parental Involvement with Children's Education" fundamentally reshaped understanding of how different forms of parental involvement affect student outcomes.

Awards & Recognition

• School of Social Science Member, Institute for Advanced Study (2009)

Research Leadership

As co-director of the Research Network on Racial and Ethnic Inequality at Duke University, Harris has led multiple significant research initiatives including Project Bright IDEA 3: Nurturing for a Bright Tomorrow (2014-2019) and Set, StartREDY, Set, Start! School Readiness for All (2017-2019). His work examining the consequences of maternal incarceration and professional development for gifted behaviors demonstrates his commitment to addressing educational inequities through rigorous empirical investigation.