RIDGELAND — Katrena Harris, instructor for the Criminal Justice program at Holmes Community College, has been selected as a 2026 Moody Institute Fellow.
Harris was chosen by the Moody Institute Trust Fund Board following a competitive review of faculty enrichment proposals submitted by faculty members from Mississippi’s public community and junior colleges. Her proposal was selected as one of the approved projects for the 2026 fellowship cycle.
As part of the fellowship, Harris will receive funding to support a professional enrichment experience focused on advancing teaching effectiveness and instructional development. The Moody Institute Trust Fund was established in 1990 in honor of Dr. George V. Moody, the first executive director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, and is administered by the Mississippi Community College Foundation.
Harris has taught criminal justice at Holmes for the past 11 years after transitioning from a career as a full-time 911 operator while earning her master’s degree and raising three children. Her children include a police detective and a captain in the United States Army. Although she originally planned to attend law school, Harris discovered a passion for teaching after being encouraged to pursue opportunities in criminal justice education.
Since joining Holmes on the Goodman Campus, Harris has taught students online and on the Grenada and Ridgeland campuses. In addition to her role as an educator, she is also a certified life coach and minister.
Harris is recognized for creating engaging, hands-on learning opportunities for students, including leading the Criminal Justice Department’s “Break Into Your Future Day” on the Ridgeland Campus. The event connected students with local, state and federal public safety agencies while providing exposure to careers in law enforcement and emergency services.
Through the support of the Moody fellowship, Harris and members of the Social Science Department plan to travel to Atlanta to visit the Serial Killer Exhibition as part of an educational enrichment experience related to criminal justice studies.
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