August 8, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
“I like to say I’m from a little bit of everywhere and a little bit of nowhere,” says Mychelle Harris, training administrator for the Center for Community Health Alignment.
Harris’ family moved every three to four years for her dad’s assignments with the U.S. Army. She finished high school in Sumter while he was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base and spent a year studying biology at the College of Charleston before transferring to USC’s main campus.
“I was anxious about finding a niche or finding a group to fit in with,” Harris says. “I’ve never felt like I had a place to call home as a military brat, but Columbia opened its arms and welcomed me in.”
As an undergrad, she studied biology initially – knowing that she had a knack for science and math. She learned about the public health major during a statistics course and says that’s when the spark started.
Harris found mentors in her professors, particularly April Winningham (recently retired) and Sara Corwin, who taught her senior seminar.
“Dr. Winningham gave me the tools to succeed and taught me skills I use to this very day,” Harris says. “Dr. Corwin encouraged us all to try something we’re interested in even if we don’t know if it’ll work out. If you don’t like it, at least you tried it and now you know more about what you do like.”
After graduating in 2020, Harris began volunteering with PASOs and the Community Health Worker Institute – both programs within the Center for Community Health Alignment. She spent six months working closely with the training team and the Southeast Community Health Worker Network.
“Working on these projects and with these teams ignited my passion for community health work,” says Harris, who was then hired as a training administrator for the Center. “I’m beyond grateful for my journey from student to staff. I would have never found a passion for my field and met the amazing people I work with.”
Since then, Harris has been an integral part of the training conducted for community health workers and their allies. She handles logistics and supports the training team to ensure they have everything they need to successfully engage participants.
"As the workforce of Community Health Workers increases, so has the demand for training," says Greg Green, training manager for the Center. "Mychelle has been an integral part of our relationship-building with organizations and individuals who want our training, inside and outside of South Carolina. The logistics for keeping up with the rapid demand increase, across the nation, is not an easy task, but Mychelle does so with grace."
Harris’ favorite part of her job is listening to and sharing the experiences of trainees. She says their perspectives and the contributions they bring to the trainings take the outcomes to the next level and result in lasting connections.
“Throughout my time in Columbia, I’ve made unforgettable friendships and memories as well as learned many life lessons,” Harris says. “I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything.”
The Staff Spotlight Series is sponsored by the Arnold School's Office of Access and Collective Engagement.