For over three decades, Melissa Harris has infused her teaching with the precision and vision of an architect. As an associate professor at the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, she has dedicated herself to design and visual thinking. Harris is set to retire at the end of the academic year, leaving a significant legacy behind.
Harris was celebrated as a Guest of Honor at Michigan Housing’s Honored Instructors event, recognizing her profound impact beyond the classroom. This year, 162 University of Michigan instructors from 14 schools were nominated for positively influencing students’ lives in residence halls.
Students at U-M nominate their instructors, acknowledging those who enhance their college journey. Sophomore Lily Paddock’s nomination made Harris’s final teaching year especially memorable. After hearing of Harris’s impending retirement, Paddock took every course Harris offered, enrolling in three classes within two years.
Instructors discover their nominators only at the ceremony, where they receive a certificate and the student’s submission. Paddock praised Harris, saying, “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.”
Since 2018, Michigan Housing has honored nearly 900 instructors, supported by over 1,000 student nominations. Harris has been recognized multiple times, demonstrating her ongoing influence. Mary Vincent, Michigan Housing’s assistant director, noted the recurring themes of passion and support that resonate in student nominations.
This year’s event coincided with Harris’s retirement celebration, attended by her 92-year-old mother, wife, and Paddock. Throughout her career, Harris has inspired thousands, leaving a lasting framework for future architects like Paddock to build upon.
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