The Perfect Beginning to Your Harris Experience

The new student orientation experience kicks off with the Welcome Address, a quintessential part of the orientation experience. This annual address is not only a chance for you to engage with other incoming students, but also to learn more about the impact of public policy and the academic journey you are about to embark on.

You'll be welcomed to campus and Harris by the Harris Student Government and you’ll learn from the President of the Harris Alumni Council, about Harris' fantastic alumni network you will soon join. 

Opening Keynote

Last year's program featured an opening keynote by Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org. This year's speaker will be selected during summer 2023.

Brenda Darden Wilkerson is a pioneering thought leader and an advocate for access, opportunity, and social justice for underrepresented communities in technology. She currently serves as the President and CEO of AnitaB.org, a global organization that connects, inspires, and strives for greater equality for women technologists in business, academia, and government.

Her work includes connecting communities worldwide to enable women and non-binary technologists to advance and succeed in tech as well as the organizations where they learn, work, invest and gain funding to create cultures conducive to mutual success. Having a passion for education equity, she founded the original Computer Science for All program, building computer science classes into the curriculum for every student in the Chicago Public Schools, and served as the inspiration for the Obama administration’s national CS For All initiatives.

Previous Speakers

Senator Sarah McBride, First State Senate District, Delaware (2021)

Jahmal Cole, CLA'20, Founder, My Block, My Hood, My City, (2020)