Name/Title
Dr Bernard A Harris Jr. -50th Laurel Wreath Laureate 2001Entry/Object ID
21Description
Astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., was initiated into ΚΑΨ at Eta Lambda chapter (Univ. of Houston) on April 26, 1975. He is a member of Houston Alumni chapter, and was honored with the 50th Laurel Wreath Award in 2001, the highest accolade in Kappa Alpha Psi for his significant contributions to science and community. He also made a significant donation to the Sr Kappa project that allowed this HAC archive room to become a reality.
Dr. Harris is currently CEO & Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital firm, that invest in early to mid-stage Healthcare technologies and companies. He is responsible for managing a portfolio of private assets of early and mid-stage venture investments and operating companies.
He served as CEO and Executive Director, National Math & Science Initiative and led the organization's efforts to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement in communities across the country. He has been involved in math and science education for over 25 years through his philanthropy as founder of the Harris Institute & Foundation.
Dr. Harris was at NASA for ten years, where he conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and clinical investigations of space adaptation and developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space. A veteran astronaut for over thirty years, he has logged more than 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space. On February 9, 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform an extra-vehicular activity (spacewalk), during the second of his two Space Shuttle flights.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council Fellowship in Endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center and trained as a Flight Surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base. He is also a licensed private pilot and certified scuba diver.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
DigitalCreated By
rtcrockett@msn.comCreate Date
October 25, 2025Updated By
rtcrockett@msn.comUpdate Date
January 14, 2026