Adjunct Professor Brings Experience from Commercial & Government Contracting to Classroom

If you want to find Christie Harris, MA, outside of work, you might need to consult an atlas.

The government contracting professional and Villanova University adjunct professor is a world traveler who has visited more than 50 countries over the years.

When she’s not off to a different hemisphere, Harris can be found in the Washington, D.C., area where she lives and works.

Working for the Government

A scholarship brought Harris to Washington, D.C., where employment opportunities led her to a position with the federal government. That experience gives her particular insight into the field of government contracting, insight she shares with students in Villanova’s Contract Management program.

The New Jersey native earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Principia College in Illinois. She was awarded a scholarship to continue her studies in international development at the graduate level, which brought her to George Mason University, about 20 miles outside Washington, D.C., in Fairfax, Va.   

“That put me in the D.C. metropolitan area where one of the biggest employers is the government, either working directly for the government or contracting,” Harris said.

After earning her Master of Arts in International Commerce and Policy, Harris began learning about government procurement from the other side of the fence, working for companies vying for government contracts such as Exxon and JWK International.

“That was my introduction to get experience with government procurement,” Harris said.

She worked as a cost price analyst, coming under the tutelage of a former federal employee who urged her to pursue a position with the federal government in the field of contracting “because it was growing and she thought I had a lot of talent and the government offered more stability,” Harris said.

Harris is currently a contracting officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s IT services department. “It gets technical, and although I’m not a technical person, I work very closely with the program office and they give me the insight I need to get the procurement,” Harris said.

Teaching and Certification

Since 2014, Harris has taught the Essentials of Commercial Contract Management, Essentials of Government Contract Management and Advanced Contract Management courses in Villanova’s College of Professional Studies. The University hired Harris as an adjunct professor in 2017.

Like Harris, other Villanova instructors in the contract management program are active industry practitioners, which Harris sees as a huge benefit to students.

“Villanova has a great program in the sense that they have people who are in this [field], who are doing the work,” Harris said. “They bring their real practical experience to the classroom.”

“In addition, it is a great preparation for learning agile contracting and preparing to get certified in this field, which does make students more attractive to an employer whether you’re in commercial or federal contracting,” Harris said.

Earning certification, she continued, shows “you’ve gone above and beyond to get certified in your field.”

Villanova’s Certificate in Contract Management program can help students prepare for National Contract Management Association (NCMA) certification exams such as the Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM), Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) and Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM).

Staying Up to Date

Harris is a member of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the NCMA, one of the oldest and largest chapters of the association. She said it’s a great organization for networking, as well as being a recognized organization that offers certifications for contract professionals.

Harris stays current with her industry and employer by staying updated on the latest news and trends published on websites such as Government Executive, U.S. General Services Administration, USA.gov and WIFCON.com.

She also holds several certifications including Level III Contracting Officer’s Representative, a Level III Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting and a Mid-Level Program and Project Managers Certification, all from the Federal Acquisition Institute; and a Level I Program Financial Management Certification from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Globe Trotter

Outside of the office, Harris is a part-time water fitness instructor. She also enjoys abstract painting and cooking international cuisines.

She’s given herself plenty of opportunities for recipe gathering over the years, having visited more than 50 countries and seen five of the seven wonders of the world, and is determined to cross the other two off her list.

Among her recommendations for somewhat off the beaten path travel destinations…

• The Galapagos Islands, home to many one-of-a-kind animal and plant varieties
• Medellin, Colombia, once named the world’s most dangerous city by Time magazine, enjoying a post-drug cartel rebirth — “I felt safe there,” Harris said. “I recommend it. It’s a beautiful city.”
• Ghana, particularly Elmina Castle, formerly one of the primary depots of the slave trade — “That was very moving for me as an African-American descendent of slaves,” Harris said.    

Harris also has journeyed overseas for her education. She studied in Indonesia as an undergraduate, and in China while in graduate school.