Professional Achievement 2003 -Charlotte Cleveland Harris
Charlotte graduated from the University of Arizona in 1965 with a B.S. in Home Economics. In 1967 she earned an M.Ed. in Education. A community volunteer for over 36 years, she has served as the President of the Junior League of Tucson, as Southern Arizona Vice-President for the Arizona Division of the American Cancer Society, and as President of the Newman Sustaining Board of St. Thomas More Chapel. She has served on numerous community boards including Tu Nidito and the Volunteer Bureau. She is currently a member of the Rotary Club of Tucson. In 1984 Charlotte was selected as the Woman of the Year by the Tucson Chamber of Commerce for her outstanding community service in quality and quantity. The award recognized her dedication to putting others first.
She was especially recognized for her work at homeless shelters. In 1990, Harris received the Arizona Mother of the Year award from the governor for her superior work and effort as an outstanding mother while succeeding in the workplace. Married to U of A college sweetheart, Michael J. Harris, for 38 years. They have three children, all U of A alums as well as their spouses, and eight grandchildren. She was admired for the way she balanced her work and her family life, though she always put her family first. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Salpointe Catholic Education Foundation in 1984. In 2001, Charlotte retired after 15 years as the Director of Development of Salpointe Catholic High School where she initiated alumni and student recruitment programs, served on administrative committees and was instrumental in raising $15 million. Charlotte states that the courses of study in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences are vital to our society, today and most definitely for the future. The family is the backbone of our society and the challenges that face it daily are overwhelming at times. We owe these values to the emerging generations.
