Wendell Harris grew up in Youngstown, Ohio . After receiving his B.A. in Sociology from Youngstown University, he enlisted in the Peace Corps and served for two years in rural Jamaica . His duties included teaching elementary school and community development. Upon returning to the United States, he taught elementary school in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio . He earned a Master of Arts in Teaching at Case-Western Reserve University prior to moving to New York State to teach in the Educational Opportunity Program at Suny-Albany. He also received a M.A. in African and Afro- American Studies at Suny-Albany. He has worked at Bard College, Cornell University, Oakland University and Schenectady… County Community College . Prior to retirement in 2003, he worked for the New York State Education Department in the Office of School Improvement. He is a published poet, avid tennis player, worked in local theatre and currently works part-time as a massage therapist.