Coppin State University’s Janel Harris Named College Representative of the Year
Janel Harris, a Coppin State University (CSU) admission counselor, was recently named Bernard Wynder College Representative of the Year for 2020 by the Baltimore CollegeBound Foundation.
“I am grateful for this award, but honestly, it’s truly rewarding for me to speak with high school students and see them come to college at Coppin and change their lives,” said Harris who has worked in the position since 2017. “It really doesn’t feel like a job, it’s more like a blessing really,” Harris noted.
Harris is uniquely qualified for her position as admissions counselor at CSU. She decided to attend CSU while visiting campus when she was in fifth grade as part of a summer camp program. Not long after enrolling, her brother was killed, and she was impacted by that life trauma. That was followed by academic and other challenges external to campus, before she ran out of financial aid. Determined, Harris found a job and took classes when she could afford them. It took Harris 18 years to earn her four-year degree. Because of her experience she feels equipped to relate and help with most challenges potential students may face.
“I am so thankful for the people at Coppin who stuck with me and helped me along the way. It’s with confidence and knowledge of the many great people at Coppin, that I can look a potential student in the eye and tell them Coppin will transform your life,” said Harris who is slated to earn her masters in higher education administration degree in May 2021.
During the award presentation Cassie Motz, CollegeBound executive director, said, “This award was voted on by all 20 of my colleagues that work with high school students.” She added Harris is “described as selfless and supportive.
About CollegeBound
CollegeBound works exclusively with Baltimore City public schools to enable students to pursue a postsecondary education. A secondary goal is to improve the social and economic fabric of the community through an educated workforce. CollegeBound maintains an annual scholarship and grant portfolio valued at $3 million and awards over $200,000 annually through the need-based Last Dollar Grant Program for Baltimore City public school graduates.
About Coppin State University
Coppin State University (CSU) is a model urban, residential, liberal arts university. Located in the northwest section of Baltimore CSU provides academic programs in the arts and sciences, teacher education, nursing, graduate studies, and continuing education. An Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), CSU is a University of Maryland institution.
