Paul A. Harris

Paul A. Harris is a Professor in the Department of Political Science within Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts. He joined as an adjunct faculty member in 2008, earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2010, and became a full Professor in 2015. He served as Department Chair from January 2019 to August 2022.

Education:

• PhD, Auburn University
• MPA, Georgia Southern University
• BA, Excelsior College

Research Focus: Harris specializes in comparative immigration policy with emphasis on U.S.-Germany comparisons, refugee and asylum systems, and post-WWII reconstruction through the lens of U.S. Army occupation in Germany. His recent work expands into environmental governance, examining climate resilience in water infrastructure. His scholarship bridges historical analysis and contemporary policy challenges, often incorporating interdisciplinary perspectives from political science, sociology, and history.

Publication Trends: Harris maintains a consistent output of high-impact scholarship, evolving from localized case studies (e.g., Dalton, Georgia's immigration response) to broader transnational analyses. His 2024 co-authored article on water infrastructure signals a strategic expansion into environmental policy, while maintaining core expertise in migration studies. Publications frequently address policy implementation gaps and cultural dimensions of governance across governmental levels.

Scientific Recognition:

• H. George Frederickson PA Times Best Article Award (2008) for 'Dalton, Georgia’s Response to Immigration'

Mentorship & Service: As a graduate faculty member, Harris serves on doctoral dissertation committees. His prior role as University Honors College Associate Director involved intensive mentoring for national scholarship competitions including Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Truman, and Goldwater awards. He has taught diverse courses spanning American Government, immigration policy, and interdisciplinary programs like the Human Odyssey.

Professional Background: With over two decades of teaching experience, Harris previously taught at Augusta State University (1998-2008) and held a Friedrich Ebert Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Germany's Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster (1997-1998). His editorial contributions include encyclopedia entries on Monuments Men figures and Jewish diaspora communities.