With a career spanning over three decades, Melissa Harris has etched a distinct identity in the realm of education, paralleled only by an architect’s dedication to their craft. Known for her engaging approach, Harris is set to retire from her role as an associate professor at the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, where she has taught design and visual thinking.
Harris’s contributions extend beyond teaching; she was recently honored as a Guest of Honor at the Michigan Housing’s Honored Instructors event. This year, 162 instructors from 14 schools and colleges at the University of Michigan were recognized for their influence on students residing in university housing.
Students are given the unique opportunity to nominate instructors whose teaching has significantly impacted their experiences. Among the many heartfelt endorsements, sophomore Lily Paddock’s nomination stood out, making Harris’s final teaching year notably memorable.
Paddock went to great lengths to attend Harris’s classes, enrolling in three courses over two years upon discovering Harris’s impending retirement. The identity of nominators remains a surprise until the ceremony, where instructors are presented with a certificate and a submission copy in an event celebrating the bond between students and educators.
“I am constantly learning new things in her class. She always has stories to tell us that somehow connect back to the things we are drawing,” Paddock expressed in her nomination for Harris. “These stories stick better in my brain than any lecture I have ever listened to. She is always excited to teach her students and always willing to help extra when students need it.”
Since its inception in 2018, Michigan Housing’s annual event has acknowledged nearly 900 instructors, with over 1,000 nominations, predominantly from first-year students. Harris has been a frequent nominee, being recognized in seven different years, occasionally by multiple students simultaneously.
Mary Vincent, assistant director of academic initiative at Michigan Housing, remarked, “Every year, we see common themes of passion for the course content, providing additional support well beyond class and office hours, and engaging lessons which deeply inspire students.” Jasmine P. Clay, director of residence education, added, “This is an opportunity for students living in our residential communities to recognize the instructors they learn from who help shape their current experience at U-M and lay the foundation for their growth.”
Coinciding with Harris’s retirement celebration at the Taubman College, her mother, aged 92, attended both events, joining Harris’s wife and Paddock in the front row. Through her dedication, Harris has influenced thousands of students, leaving behind a legacy akin to an architect’s enduring framework, inspiring future designers like Lily Paddock as she steps away from her teaching role.
