ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris will speak to West Virginia University students on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. He will discuss the importance of education in achieving success.

The event is coordinated through the University’s Resident Faculty Leader program to support their “Our WVU Communities” initiative.

“I am humbled that WVU’s RFL program has invited me to speak on the topic of education – a subject I am very passionate about,” Harris said. “I am looking forward to meeting the talented students of WVU. I accepted this invitation to come to WVU, so that I could talk to students about the importance of education in their lives. Education is the key to everything.”

Dr. Elizabeth Dooley, WVU associate provost of Undergraduate Education, will conduct a question and answer session with Harris, which will highlight the importance of education in achieving success.

“I am pleased the Resident Faculty Leaders have come together to sponsor an academic program designed to not only engage students but to also hear how education plays a critical role in personal and professional growth,” Dooley said. “As students from various backgrounds, cultures and experiences enter our University, it is critical that we provide opportunities for engagement.”

Key points of their discussions will include: personal and social responsibility, decision making skills and the importance of staying focused on education.

“The forum was designed to assist students in building communities as well as to raise awareness about the Our WVU Communities initiative sponsored by the RFL program,” said Dr. Ann Richards, RFL program chair.

Harris has worked at ESPN as an anchor for ESPNEWS and SportsCenter since Feb. 2003. Harris previously worked at WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh, Pa., as a news anchor. Prior to that, he was the morning news anchor at WAMO-FM and a national news reporter at American Urban Radio Networks in Pittsburgh and WOWI-FM in Norfolk, Va.

Harris graduated from Old Dominion University with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication in 1987. In 2003, he was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award. Harris was part of SportsCenter’s Sports Emmy-winning efforts in 2004 and 2005, and a recipient of the Silver World Medal from the New York Festival Awards, Robert L. Vann Award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation and an EXCEL Award from the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals.

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CONTACT: Elizabeth Dooley, Undergraduate Academic Affairs
304-293-2661, Elizabeth.Dooley@mail.wvu.edu

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