Karla H. Harper

Director of Placement and Career Services

During her thirty-plus years of experience in higher education, Ms. Karla Harper has developed a dedicated understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities students encounter in their academic journey. She believes an effective Student Affairs Administrator must provide students with opportunities for academic, personal, and professional growth inside and outside the classroom.

Before Allen University, Ms. Harper had extensive experience in Admissions in the areas of developing college visitation programs, implementing outreach activities, facilitating prospective student information sessions/interview forums, and marketing the University of South Carolina, Morris Brown College, State University of New York at Albany, and Daemen College to students, parents, the guidance community, and community agencies. Recently, she worked for Central State University, serving as the Director of Career Services. She has also worked at Alabama A&M University, Southeast Arkansas College, and Savannah State University in the areas of Student Affairs. She supervised functional areas including Admissions, Data Entry, Financial Aid, Career Services, Health Services, and the Center for Leadership & Character Development. She has established a reputation as a highly motivated and organized individual.

She is committed to the principle that a college or university should be “student-centered” in its academic programs and services outside the classroom. Ms. Harper believes Student Affairs professionals should model this for the campus community and build partnerships with faculty and staff to create an environment where student success and achievements are valued.

Joseph Ray Ph.D.

Counselor and Director of Counseling and Placement

As a native of Spartanburg, SC, Dr. Ray is the Counselor in the office of Counseling and Placement Services. He has spent thirty-three years working as a human services executive in the fields of alcohol and drug abuse, public housing, and vocational rehabilitation counseling. Dr. Ray has held the academic rank of Associate Professor at Trident International University and is the former Academic Program Director for Claflin University's satellite campus at Fort Jackson. Additionally, he has taught as an adjunct professor at Springfield College (Springfield, MA), USC, Benedict College, Southern Wesleyan University, Webster University, Voorhees College, and Grand Canyon University. Dr. Ray's specialty areas are organizational management, organizational development, leadership development, and team building.

Dr. Ray is a certified grant writer and reviewer. In 2003 and 2005, Dr. Ray received the "Excellence in Teaching Award" from Southern Wesleyan University's Graduate School. He has also taught at the graduate level at Springfield College, Trident International University, and Webster University. He is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Psychological Association (APA), the Society for Diversity, and the South Carolina Association of Colleges and Employers (SCACE). He received a B.S. Degree in Psychology and an M.A. Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Services Administration with a concentration in Organizational Management from The Union Institute and University. Please contact Dr. Ray at jray@allenuniversity.edu or 803-376-5738.