Dr. Patterson-Harris Retires From Langston Univ.

The Alford Family proudly congratulates our own Dr. Emily V. Patterson-Harris on her upcoming retirement from Langston University, effective June 30, 2025. After more than 40 years of extraordinary service in education and leadership, Dr. Patterson-Harris leaves behind a powerful legacy marked by excellence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to student success.

As Dean of the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, she has mentored generations of educators, inspired countless students, and championed academic progress with grace and determination. Her journey was not without challenges, but her perseverance and achievements are nothing short of remarkable.

A proud daughter of educators Violet J. Alford-Patterson and Lee V. Patterson, Sr., Emily carries forward a powerful legacy of academic excellence and service. She is also the beloved niece of fellow Langston University alumni and professors, the late Dr. Wessylyne Alford-Simpson and Professor James Allan Simpson, continuing a rich tradition of leadership and scholarship within the Alford family.

Dr. Patterson-Harris is a distinguished scholar in her own right. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio; a Master of Library Science (MLS) from the State University of New York at Buffalo; and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Her academic path reflects a lifelong dedication to knowledge, equity, and educational advancement.

She is also a proud charter member of the Alpha Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Her commitment to sisterhood, scholarship, and service extends well beyond the classroom and continues to uplift her community.

Emily is the proud mother of two distinguished sons: Attorney Erick Harris, Esq. (Melissa Harris), who serves as a State Representative in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and Dr. Chris D. Harris, M.D. (Amreen Alisha Harris), owner of Nexus Family and Maternity Care. She is a devoted grandmother to Inayaah, Carter, Olivia, and Erick II, each a reflection of her enduring legacy of love, faith, and achievement.

We are grateful for the shining example she has set, not only as a scholar and administrator, but as a proud Alford matriarch and legacy builder. Dr. Patterson-Harris, your impact will continue to inspire generations to come.

Please join us in celebrating this phenomenal milestone and wishing her the very best in her well earned retirement. Learn more about her incredible career in this month’s edition of E Roar:

Read More:  https://issuu.com/langstonuni.../docs/_e_roar_vol._2_issue_4

Lineage:

Emily is the daughter of Violet J. Alford-Patterson & Lee Virgil Patterson, Sr.;

Granddaughter of Wesley Dow Alford & Emily J. Dunlap-Alford; and

Great-Granddaughter of Matthew Solomon Alford & Lucy Berry-Alford.

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