Former United States Sen. Fred Harris, a long-time political figure, activist, and professor emeritus at The University of New Mexico, created and leaves behind an impressive legacy from a political career that impacted many United States citizens and countless students who benefited from a legislative internship program he established decades ago.
Harris died on Nov. 23, shortly after his 94th birthday.
After a storied political career in his home state of Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., Harris moved to New Mexico and became a professor at The University of New Mexico. He shared his passion and enthusiasm for the legislative process with UNM students in the classroom and through the internship program named after him.
“It with great sadness that we learned of the passing of U.S. Senator and Professor Fred Harris, a faculty colleague in political science at UNM since the late 1970s,” said Jami Nelson-Nuñez, UNM associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science. “Fred was a statesman, professor, and author, as well as a colleague, friend, and mentor to countless people inside and outside the university.
“Legions of UNM students over the decades were educated in the finer points of U.S. government by Fred, whose deep intelligence, practical experience, and inexhaustible wit captivated and inspired his students.”
In 2006, working with the UNM President, Harris created a pathway for UNM students to spend a semester interning in Washington, D.C. with members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation. The purpose of the Fred Harris Congressional Internship is to send academically outstanding undergraduate students interested in public policy to participate in public service by observing and contributing to the policy-making process. The internship experience helps students understand the challenges and rewards of public life and gives them opportunities to develop their professional skills.
“Senator Harris believed that it was critical to have our students understand and engage the institutions that govern their lives,” Nelson-Nuñez said, adding that prior to becoming a professor at UNM, Harris served in the U.S. Senate as chair of the Democratic National Committee, and was last surviving member of the Kerner Commission, appointed by President Lyndon Johnson to investigate the root causes of urban riots in the 1960s.
Memorial Service...
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in the Education Building, 1701 4th St., S.W., Albuquerque, N.M. 87102.
In a message to the Lobo community, titled Honoring the Legacy of Fred Harris: A Champion of Education and Public Service, UNM President Garnett Stokes said, “It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Fred Harris, a remarkable individual who left an indelible mark on our university and the nation. As a former U.S. senator and esteemed professor of political science at UNM, Fred inspired countless students with his wealth of knowledge, passion for public service, and unwavering commitment to social justice.
“His legacy lives on through the Fred Harris Congressional Internship program, which continues to provide our students with invaluable experiences in Washington, D.C., fostering the next generation of civic leaders. Fred's dedication to education, civil rights, and Native American advocacy has profoundly shaped our institution's values and mission. As we reflect on his extraordinary life and contributions, let us honor Fred's memory by continuing to uphold the principles of democracy, equality, and public service that he so passionately championed throughout his career.”
Harris rose from birth in a two-room farmhouse in Oklahoma to become a well-known politician, educator, author, and activist. He began his political career in 1957, serving in the Oklahoma Senate before becoming a U.S. senator in 1964. He emphasized issues affecting Native Americans and worked to further Indian health and community development. In the Senate, he played a major role in restoring the sacred Blue Lake lands to the Taos Pueblo and championing the cause of Alaska Eskimos seeking to retain a large portion of their land claims.
Before moving to New Mexico, where he lived in Corrales, he ran for the presidency in 1972 and 1976. While unsuccessful, his arguments impacted the debate and political platforms in those election.
Harris received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from UNM in 2024 for his distinguished career. In the letter recommending that Harris receive an honorary doctorate, UNM Professor of Political Science Mark Peceny noted that as a teenager from a poor family in a small town in rural Oklahoma, Harris picked cotton, baled hay, and worked at the printing press of the local newspaper. He was the first member of his family to attend college, earning degrees from the University of Oklahoma.
“Then he went on to change the world,” Peceny wrote. “Having Professor Harris teach our students for three decades meant that we had the perfect person to remind our students every day that if people [do] it, they could do it. They could succeed in any career or profession after earning their degrees from UNM. They could also become powerful advocates for social change in America. They too could change the world… “
Harris’ support of the internship continued, long after his retirement from UNM. In 2023, he and his family started an endowment to ensure the opportunity remains available to students of all financial backgrounds.
The non-partisan internship has impacted UNM, students and the state since its inception, placing more than 150 students in both Democratic and Republican offices over the years.
“This internship program has the ability to change the trajectory of students’ lives in the best way possible and open them up to new experiences they would likely not have if it was not for this program,” said Alyssa Holguin, an intern from 2021.
“I learned many things from my time in the internship, learning so much about the inner workings of Congress which, before that, were more conceptual and my understanding of was broad-based,” stated Jordan DiMaggio, who interned in 2010. “The Fred Harris internship provided practical, hands-on experience with crafting policy, press releases, attending hearings, taking part in briefings and receptions were all great experiences that I was able to take part in.”
Applications for the Fred Harris Congressional Internship are currently open. Students can apply here.
Anyone interested in supporting the internship program endowment can donate here.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. at the Hispanic Cultural Center.