Jenni Harris leaves UNCW for job with NC Commerce

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — UNCW’s Assistant to the Chancellor for Community Partnerships is leaving the university to take a job in state government.

Jenni Harris, a Wilmington native and UNCW alumna, has served in the role since it was created in 2012. Since then she has worked on projects including a regional brand initiative and outreach to business leaders.

In an e-mail to colleagues, Harris said she will leave the college at the end of May to join the NC Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Partnership as the liaison between the state and the southeastern economic region, working closely with city and county governments, economic developers, businesses and higher education institutions.

“This is a huge opportunity for me, and I couldn’t be more excited,” Harris said in her message. “My experiences at UNCW have been a tremendous opportunity for me to align higher education with economic development through partnerships that spur economic activity.”

Harris, who will remain in Wilmington, said she is looking forward to working in her new role with incoming UNCW Chancellor Zito Sartarelli, who plans an emphasis on business development when he takes over July 1.