Shaton Harris, M.Ed.

 Shaton Harris is the Associate Director for the Learning Communities (LCs) in the LAUNCH office. She oversees scholarship and retention programs such as the Century Scholars Program in College Station, McAllen, and Galveston; the Greater Texas Foundation Program (GTF); and the Brownsville Scholars Program. Shaton is also over the LAUNCH Mentor Training and Certification Program that trains all the mentors in each learning community including the University Honors Program. Her responsibilities also include coordinating and overseeing the planning, development, and implementation of the LC programs; teaching multiple sections of UGST 181 freshman seminar on topics such as academic and personal success, campus involvement, community engagement, cultural exploration, ethical decision making, and advocacy; advising students in the LC programs; overseeing the spring break international trip; and serving as the primary adviser for the Century Scholar Organization.

Shaton is from Pasadena, California. She moved to Texas to attend Sam Houston State Univerisry where she received her B.A in Sociology, with a minor in Communication Studies. While at Sam Houston, Shaton joined a program similar to the LC programs in LAUNCH that assisted her with her transition into college as a first-generation college student. Shaton continued her education in Texas and completed her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As an Associate Director, she has been able to implement many techniques and practices learned throughout her studies, internships, and clinical. Shaton also has a passion for integrating basic counseling techniques with advising. She believes her Master's Degree has allowed her to enhance her ability to build rapport with students and colleagues, which is very important to her.