Carla Harris Recipient of Felician University’s 2017 MLK, Jr. Legacy Award
Carla Harris: Recipient of Felician University’s 2017 MLK Jr. Legacy Award, Embodying Leadership and Advocacy!
In front of an overflow crowd of enthusiastic students, faculty, staff and friends of the University, Felician recently bestowed its 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award to Morgan Stanley executive Carla Harris. Ms. Harris serves as Vice Chairman, Wealth Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor for Morgan Stanley.
“We are so proud to name Carla Harris as the 2017 recipient of our MLK Legacy Award,” said Felician University President, Dr. Anne Prisco. “Carla has dedicated her life to improving the quality of lives in underserved communities and has worked tirelessly to feed the hungry, provide jobs and economic opportunity for all people and ensure equal access to higher education.”
“Grow your power by giving it away,” said Ms. Harris. She encouraged all of those in attendance at the awards ceremony to “always try. Try gives you experience, and you will either gain the blessing of success or a life lesson that will help you in the future.”
In 2013, Ms. Harris was appointed by President Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. Recently named to FORTUNE Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America”, Ms. Harris is the immediate past Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and sits on the boards of the Food Bank for NYC; The Executive Leadership Council; The Toigo Foundation; Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO); A Better Chance, Inc; Mt. Sinai and St. Vincent’s Hospitals; Xavier University. She is also co-chair of the National Social Action Commission of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and served as a member of the Board of Overseers’ Committee on University Resources, Harvard University.
Ms. Harris received an MBA from Harvard Business School, Second Year Honors and an AB in economics from Harvard University, Magna Cum Laude. She is also the author of the newly released book, Strategize to Win and of Expect to Win (2009) (Hudson Press).
The MLK Jr. Legacy Award was created by Felician University to honor Dr. King and to do so by recognizing individuals who strive to fulfill Dr. King’s dream of equality and justice.
- An individual whose life’s work reflects and promotes the University’s core values – especially passion for issues related to social justice, civil rights and economic equality
- A personal mission in life that also embodies the mission and values of the University’s Felician/Franciscan heritage – compassion, justice and peace, and finding goodness in all God’s creation
- A person who compels all people to give the gift of hope
“During his recent farewell address in Chicago, President Obama echoed the spirit of Dr. King saying: ‘I’m asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.’ We applaud Carla Harris for an exemplary life of helping to improve the world condition. As a champion of equality, justice and compassion, she truly embodies the legacy of Dr. King,” Dr. Prisco said.
About Felician University
Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Felician University – with campuses in Lodi and Rutherford, NJ – is a Catholic Franciscan University founded and sponsored by the Felician Sisters in 1942. Felician offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in Arts and Sciences, Business, Nursing and Teacher Education. In 2015, the University was ranked by Money Magazine as one of America’s Top Colleges and also listed among Money’s top 25 private colleges for merit aid. For more information, please visit our website.
