Sherman, Texas -- On November 7, 2025, at a meeting of the Austin College Board of Trustees, Austin College President Steven O’Day announced a transformational gift of $5.5 million from Mary Ann ’70 and James R. Harris ’67 of Fort Worth, Texas, to construct a new facility for the College’s recently launched engineering program.
The facility, which will be known as the Harris Engineering Center, will be a state-of-the-art home for engineering at Austin College. Designed by Corgan Architects in Dallas, the building will have an open, airy, modern aesthetic, and will house six labs, two classrooms, faculty offices, and advanced manufacturing capabilities. The approximately 8,000 square foot space is designed for specialized use by engineering students, including collaborative classrooms, individual workspaces, room for specialized equipment, and some unfinished space to allow future expansion for an additional engineering concentration.
In his announcement, President O’Day said, “This beautiful, permanent home for Austin College engineering signals the program’s strength and exceptional promise, positioning it for both immediate and long-term success. The Harrises’ significant leadership in supporting Austin College engineering is a testament to the exceptional promise of the program to advance the institution forward at this time of unprecedented regional opportunity. Additionally, as Austin College alumni, the Harrises recognized the value in rooting the program within the College’s broad and rigorous liberal arts curriculum, ensuring that students develop leadership, ethical reasoning, and critical thinking skills alongside a robust technical education.”
In April 2025, Austin College unveiled plans to offer a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree option with concentrations in mechanical and electrical engineering—the first engineering program offered in the Texoma region. The first cohort of students began their coursework in the fall semester of 2025, with classes currently being held in the College’s IDEA Center, the home to other STEM fields offered at the College. A suite of labs and classrooms has been retrofitted for engineering already, thanks to a portion of the Harrises’ generous gift. However, projections for the Engineering program suggest that as the program grows, both in number of courses offered and the number of students enrolled, the capacity of the current space will be exceeded by fall 2029.
Fall 2029 is also the anticipated date for both the ABET accreditation of the program, which can only take place after the first students have graduated from the program, and opening of the Harris Engineering Center. Jim and Mary Ann Harris are 1967 and 1970 graduates of Austin College, respectively, and they have been faithful supporters of the College for years through contributions including the Mary Ann and James R. Harris Endowed JanTerm Scholarship and the Biology Level of the IDEA Center. This extraordinary gift will continue their legacy of transformational philanthropy to the College and further equip the college to offer a cutting-edge engineering program.
“The mission of the engineering program is to equip students with a broad and rigorous education in engineering, grounded in the values of a strong liberal arts tradition, through hands-on projects, research, and industry experience. This new facility will allow for expanded hands-on opportunities with industrial-grade equipment and space for large industry-sponsored projects, student teamwork, and applied learning experiences,” said Dr. Rahul Renu, Associate Professor of Engineering and Founding Director of the Engineering Program. “These are skills and experiences that will not only help our graduates succeed in their engineering careers on day one but will also ensure that they have a clear edge.” The College envisions this unique space and equipment as an invitation for collaboration with area companies, strengthening the regional reputation as a burgeoning technology and manufacturing hub.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
