Dr. Arelia Powers-Harris, PhD.

Dr. Harris is the Acting Civil Rights Director for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service.  She received her Bachelors in Accounting from Southern University, her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida an her PhD in Natural Resource Economics from Michigan State University. 

She began her professional career teaching at several Universities while completing her degrees.   She began her career in the Forest Service, as what was then known as the Student Career Experience Program.  While participating in the SCEP Aurelia worked in research at Michigan State University, at the Forest Service Northern Research Station in St. Paul, MN and at the Southern Research Station in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.  After receiving her Doctorate degree she moved on to the WO Timber and Planning Staffs in Fort Collins, Colorado where she served as an Natural Resource Economist.

After two and one half years Aurelia moved to The Southwestern Regional Office to serve as the Assistant Regional Economist on the Program Development and Budget staff in 1994.   In 1998 she was promoted and served as the Regional Economist in State and Private Staff.   In 2005 she accepted a position on the Regional Office’s Civil Rights Staff serving at the Regional Student Coordinator and EEO Specialist.   Aurelia is currently the Acting Regional Civil Rights Director serving the Region and working on the National Civil Rights Implementation Team.

Aurelia is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority INC, an international service sorority, where she has served as Chapter president, Chapter vice president, Regional Nominating Committee Chairperson and Advisor to the Sorority’s undergraduate Chapter on the campus of the University of New Mexico.    She serves on the Board of Directors for New Mexico Jazz Workshop and the Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico.  Aurelia is a member of John XXII Catholic Community where she is a lector, CCD Instructor, Eucharistic Minister, and choir member. She continues to volunteer at several other non-profit agencies in the Greater Albuquerque area.

She is the proud mother of one daughter and grandmother of one granddaughter and mother-in-law of one son.

Dr. Harris is the Acting Civil Rights Director for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service.  She received her Bachelors in Accounting from Southern University, her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Florida an her PhD in Natural Resource Economics from Michigan State University.  She is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority INC,  serves on the Board of Directors for New Mexico Jazz Workshop and the Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico.  She is active in her church, John XXII Catholic Community where she is a lector, CCD Instructor, Eucharistic Minister, and choir member. She continues to volunteer at several other non-profit agencies in the Greater Albuquerque area.

Dr. Harris is the Acting Civil Rights Director for the Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service. She began her professional career teaching at the University level while completing her degrees, and her career with the Forest Service, as what was then known as the Student Career Experience Program.  In addition to her work, Dr. Harris serves on the Board of Directors for New Mexico Jazz Workshop, the Sickle Cell Council of New Mexico and volunteers at several other non-profit agencies in the Greater Albuquerque area.