My journey began between the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf Coast, where curiosity, creativity, and resilience were my earliest teachers. I was born in Middletown, Ohio, and raised in Denver, Colorado, and Pensacola, Florida. My father, James Harris Sr., served in the U.S. Air Force and was also a minister. My mother, Dorothy L. Harris, was a spirited woman who took pride in raising her three sons. Childhood was full of stories, exploration, and discovery. I fell in love with nature, science, and anything that flew or moved on wheels. According to family lore, I mastered riding a bike before I ever learned to crawl.

In preschool, I became fascinated with Denver's Channel 9 evening news, which caught my father's attention. He arranged a surprise visit to the TV station, and that moment planted a seed I didn't fully recognize at the time: storytelling and media would become my path.

I also owe a great deal to my younger brother's third-grade teacher, Ms. Shipley, who saw my talent for writing even as I navigated learning differences. Her encouragement helped me claim my voice and grow into a storyteller.

I graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola at the turn of the century and went on to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee to study Journalism. At FAMU, I immersed myself in campus life. I served in the Student Government Association, represented the Royal Court, and joined Kappa Alpha Psi and Alpha Phi Omega Fraternities.

My entrepreneurial side came alive in college. I launched an award-winning radio show called "The Final Cut" and initiated a recycling program that continues to this day. To support myself, I became a certified personal trainer, led fitness classes across Tallahassee, and founded the university's spin cycling program.

During that time, I began my professional news career as a weekend production assistant at WCTV. I later joined WTXL, where I worked as an editor, producer, reporter, and photographer. I also taught GED courses at Tallahassee State College and interned in Public Relations at Six Flags Over Georgia. I also served as a press intern for Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

I continued my career at WTVY in Dothan, Alabama, while pursuing my Master's in Public Administration at Troy University. Eventually, I returned home to Pensacola to work at WEAR-TV as a producer and photographer. I became active in the local community through Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Pensacola Young Professionals Society.

After two years, I stepped away from television to explore a new direction as an advertising account executive at AT&T Small Business Solutions in Atlanta, Georgia. I helped transition the Yellow Pages into a digital platform while continuing my graduate studies. I earned my Master's degree during this time, then returned to media through a news trainee program at FOX 5 Atlanta, eventually becoming a creative services writer and producer.

At FOX 5, I became one of the first professionals in the country to build a TV station's presence on YouTube through the FOX VIP program. My work supported major show launches, including Bob's Burgers and American Idol, and strengthened my passion for storytelling across emerging platforms.

I took a leap of faith and moved to New York to join CBS New York as a creative writer and producer. I spent nearly a decade there, producing more than 500 campaigns and earning honors including an Emmy and the National Association of Black Journalists' Salute to Excellence Award. I later joined CBS News as an associate producer, working across platforms and helping break international stories through a creative lens.

Today, I am the Senior Creative Writer at NBCUniversal and Head of Content Development for the Women's Aerospace Network. I serve on the NBCUniversal Creative Council, am a member of the Writers Guild of America, and support several community organizations. As the Creative Director of the Safe Space for Dreams Community Art Project, I utilize art to foster imagination and promote healing.

I'm a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the FAMU Alumni Association, where I serve as President Emeritus of the New York chapter. I also serve as a judge for the Emmy Awards. And after all these years, I still enjoy one of my earliest passions: riding my bicycle.