Richard C. Harris

Richard C. Harris is a Professor of Humanities at Webb Institute, where he has served since 1996 as Assistant Dean, Director of the Humanities Program, and Coordinator of Assessment. He previously held faculty positions at SUNY-Maritime College and Hofstra University, and his academic career spans over four decades.

• Ph.D. in English, UNC-Chapel Hill (1974)
• M.A. in English, UNC-Chapel Hill (1968)
• A.B. in English with Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, UNC-Chapel Hill (1967)

Harris’s research focuses on Willa Cather’s literary works, particularly the interplay between historical contexts, chivalric traditions, and artistic influences in One of Ours. He explores connections between literature and visual arts, World War I narratives, and the cultural frameworks shaping Cather’s fiction.

His recent publications analyze Cather’s use of medieval architecture, Wagnerian motifs, and editorial correspondence, reflecting trends in interdisciplinary scholarship and historical recovery. Harris has presented extensively at national and international conferences, including the International Willa Cather Seminar and Western Literature Association meetings.

• Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition (2019)
• John J. McMullen Professor of Humanities (2007)
• Distinguished Scholar, Willa Cather Scholar’s Summit (2004)
• Certificate of Commendation from AASLH (2002)

Harris has chaired multiple committees at Webb Institute and co-edited the Scholarly Edition of Willa Cather’s One of Ours. He coordinates the Zeien Lecture Series and advises students on professional communication, blending pedagogy with administrative leadership.