Rev. Ricky Harrison Continues Mission of Service as Dean of Students
Service is a calling for Rev. Ricky Harrison ’14.
Whether mentoring students, leading worship, or simply being present for someone in need of a listening ear, Harrison has built his life around caring for others. That calling recently led McMurry to appoint him dean of students, a role he assumes while continuing to serve as the university chaplain.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime returning to serve an institution that played a critical role in shaping me into the person and professional I am today. It is an honor to step into this expanded leadership role, which provides the opportunity to positively impact the lives of even more students across our McMurry community.”
Rev. Ricky Harrison ’14After graduating from McMurry in 2014 and earning his degree from Duke University Divinity School, Harrison served in pastoral ministry before returning to McMurry in 2023 as university chaplain and director of religious and spiritual life.
Ministry Beyond the Chapel
Since then, he has become a visible and approachable presence across campus. Students are as likely to see him in the dining hall or at a campus event as they are to see him in the chapel.
Harrison has long believed that meaningful ministry happens as much beyond the chapel as within it.
As dean of students, that same instinct now drives a broader vision that is both relational and strategic.
Among his priorities is expanding access to mental health support. Harrison is overseeing the transition of the Counseling Center into the Department of Student Care, reflecting a shift toward coordinating a wider range of student support services.
This fall, McMurry will launch a telehealth platform that provides students with 24/7 access to licensed medical and mental health providers from anywhere on campus. Harrison sees the initiative as a way to remove barriers to care and ensure students can access support whenever they need it.
Department of Student Care
Harrison is overseeing the transition of the Counseling Center into the Department of Student Care, reflecting a shift toward coordinating a wider range of student support services.
Medical & Mental Health Support
This fall, McMurry will launch a telehealth platform that provides students with 24/7 access to licensed medical and mental health providers from anywhere on campus.
“In this new hybrid model, medical and mental health services will now be accessible to our students, faculty, and staff 24/7, year-round. Students can still see our licensed professionals on campus during business hours as well as virtually connect with a provider in the middle of the night, over the weekend, or even when campus is closed during breaks. Having access to free medical, counseling, and psychiatric resources at the moment of crisis will allow students to be more successful in the classroom, on the field, and out in the world.”
The platform will also provide aggregate data that can help the university better understand student needs and identify gaps in support services.
“As we identify the challenges students face that may lie below the surface, we will be better able to adapt quickly and reposition resources to meet those needs and set students up for greater success.”
Creating Spaces Where Students Find Belonging
The same philosophy applies to student engagement. Rather than measuring success by the number of events offered, he focuses on the experiences that have the greatest impact on students’ connection, belonging, and success.
“Through collecting and critically analyzing data on student engagement, we can better identify those initiatives that make the biggest impact in the lives of our students. Instead of putting as many events as possible on the calendar, we’re going to focus on those engagement points that make the most significant difference in holistic student success.”
Harrison credits his own experience at McMurry with shaping his approach to supporting the whole student.
“When I was a student at McMurry, Student Affairs professionals like Rev. Tim Kennedy, Dr. Vanessa Roberts-Bryan, Jason Feltz, and so many others invested in me both personally and professionally. They cared about me as a whole person and saw leadership gifts in me that I could not yet see in myself. Now, on the other side of the graduation stage, our Student Affairs Team has the opportunity to make that investment in new generations of students who continue to carry that transformative legacy out into the world.”
Rev. Ricky Harrison ’14