COLUMBIA, SC – September 9, 2025, Benedict College is proud to announce Dr. Vanessa Harris, Executive Director of the Benedict College B.E.S.T. Lives Center, has been nominated to serve as the Post-Secondary Education Representative for the South Carolina Corrections Education Association (SC CEA) for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
Harris has been a steadfast leader in advancing educational opportunities and reentry initiatives for justice-involved individuals. Through her work at Benedict College and the B.E.S.T. Lives Center, she has championed programs that provide pathways to personal growth, workforce readiness, and community reintegration. Her nomination for this statewide leadership role underscores her commitment to leveraging education as a catalyst for transformation.
“Dr. Harris’s nomination is a tremendous honor for Benedict College,” said Dr. Janeen Witty, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Benedict College. “Her leadership in correctional education and reentry work exemplifies Benedict’s mission to empower communities through education, innovation, and service.”
As part of this appointment, Harris will engage in leadership activities designed to strengthen correctional education across South Carolina.
Harris shared her enthusiasm for this opportunity: “My appointment to the South Carolina Chapter of the Correctional Education Association (SC CEA) provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the advancement of post-secondary education within the South Carolina Correctional System. The SC CEA is dedicated to providing leadership across the state in the promotion, development, and enhancement of correctional education programs. Its mission aligns seamlessly with Benedict College’s commitment to delivering transformative learning experiences that empower students to be their BEST educationally and personally.
Through this role, I will not only represent Benedict College but also serve as a voice for all post-secondary institutions in South Carolina that are engaged in prison education initiatives. I am honored to advocate for equitable access to education and to help shape and support academic reentry and lifelong learning for justice-impacted individuals.”
Benedict College celebrates Dr. Harris’s appointment and looks forward to supporting her impactful work as she represents the College and the state in advancing correctional education.
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About Benedict College (www.benedict.edu)
Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution offering 29 competitive baccalaureate degree programs and two master’s degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from several counties in South Carolina, states across America, and countries around the world. The College also has a diverse faculty deeply engaged in teaching, research, and service.
Benedict College has been highly regarded and exceptionally ranked for its programs by several academic and traditional publications. Benedict College is the recipient of the 2024 UNCF Institutional Excellence Award given by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building Program in celebration of an HBCU that achieved next-level performance. Benedict was also named HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest and was listed among the top half of ranked HBCUs in the 2022 edition of Best Colleges by US News and World Report.
Benedict College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Five of the College’s degree programs hold national accreditation: Social Work Program, Environmental Health Science Program, Environmental Engineering, Studio Art, and the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship.
About SC CEA
The South Carolina Corrections Education Association (SC CEA) is dedicated to promoting quality correctional education and supporting professional development for educators and staff. As a state chapter of the Correctional Education Association, SC CEA works to enhance opportunities for learning, rehabilitation, and successful reentry.
