About Clemmie Harris
Biographical Highlights
- Senior Advisor, NY Governor David A. Paterson
- Criminal Investigator, New York State Police
- Professor, Utica University and Syracuse University
- Veteran, US Army Reserves
- Born in Buffalo, currently resides in the Syracuse suburb of Camillus
Clemmie Harris has dedicated his entire career to public service. Clemmie served as a senior aide to former NY Governor Paterson, advising the Governor on many top policy issues. Clemmie led the team that created greater economic opportunity for women-owned and minority-owned small businesses and helped create a fifty million dollar fund to help small businesses remain open during the Great Recession.
He fought for greater police reform like ending unfair stop and frisk policies, and reversing the Rockefeller drug laws. Clemmie also helped increase minority access to new levels of civic engagement for historically marginalized communities. Prior to his service with the former Governor, Clemmie was an investigator for the New York State Police, leading New York’s fight against sex trafficking, narcotics trafficking, and managed the force’s diversity recruitment program. Clemmie is a veteran of the US Army Reserves, where he served as a Drill Sergeant.
Born in Buffalo, Clemmie currently resides in Camillus, a Syracuse suburb. Clemmie is a professor of history and Chair of Africana Studies at Utica University. He is a former professor at Syracuse University, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and has won dozens of awards and distinctions for his academic career.
