Pathfinder Kevin Harrison: Helping people find their purpose and direction in life

Published on Feb 27, 2024

“At Ashland Community and Technical College, I see people that are ready to move forward with their lives and better their lives,” said Kevin Harrison, Senior Fellow of Cultural Diversity & Apprenticeship Project Coordinator. 

Kevin Harrison is an incredible example of what it means to be a pathfinder.  Focusing on helping others find their full potential, their purpose, and their direction keeps Harrison going day after day. His leadership and passion for what he does is contagious throughout the ACTC campus. 

Originally from the Bahamas, Harrison came to the States in 1986, where he attended Mt. San Jacinto Junior College in California. His original plan was to focus on scuba diving certifications to return to the Bahamas and run his own operation, but life took him in a different direction. 

He spent three years in California playing basketball and football for Mt. San Jacinto Junior College where he attended, which ultimately led to him receiving a football scholarship at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. 

He majored in psychology and higher education counseling and took off with his career path. He moved from working with the H.E.L.P. Program at Marshall University to an alternative school in Huntington, to ACTC, to Ramey-Estep, and finally back to ACTC in 2020. Facing highs and lows along the way, Harrison was diligent to study, learn and continue to grow through his career journey. 

“The young adults are what brought me back to Ashland Community and Technical College,” Harrison shared. “If you’re willing to work and I can help you in any way, I will always do my best to help.” 

It’s evident that Harrison enjoys his work. As a self-proclaimed dreamer, he finds motivation in being around people who are moving forward and excited about their future. He has four children of his own that have all passed through ACTC as students.

“I believe that everybody has a purpose,” Harrison said. “I believe mine is to be somebody that helps people tap into their full potential and to help them find their purpose and direction in life.”

Harrison’s days balance many things, including coordinating day to day and monthly activities for the diversity calendar, developing and creating trainings, researching, reading, meeting with other schools and different communities to help minority students, apprenticeships, and more. 

“My life is drastically different than when I first came to ACTC,” He shared. “Now I believe I have even more to give to the institution.”