In Memoriam: Barbara “Bobbi” Lee Harris, 1939-2019

Barbara “Bobbi” Lee Harris, professor emerita of nursing at Syracuse University in New York, passed away on February 4, 2019. She died on her 80th birthday.

Dr. Harris was named a clinical instructor in Syracuse’s School of Nursing in 1965, after a stint as head nurse at Syracuse Memorial Hospital. She was quickly promoted to assistant professor in 1967 and later to associate professor in 1995. She taught leadership and management courses to senior and graduate-level nursing students. She retired in 1998 after 33 years with the university and she was conferred the title of professor emerita of nursing.

In 1977 and 1978, Dr. Harris was part of the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Faculty Fellowship in Rochester, New York. With the experience she gained through the fellowship, she helped establish a primary care nurse practitioner program at Syracuse University.

In addition to her faculty roles, Dr. Harris was active in Syracuse’s Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society. She was also involved with the New York League of Nurses, the New York State Nurses Association, the local American Red Cross Disaster Nursing Committee, the New York State Archaeological Society, and the Syracuse University Nurses Alumni Association.

Dr. Harris was a graduate of Syracuse University where she majored in nursing. She held a master’s degree in nursing from Boston University and a Ph.D. from the School of Management at Syracuse University.