La Verne Abe Harris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Graphics Technology at Purdue University . Dr. Harris joined the Purdue University Computer Graphics Technology Department in 2007, coming from Arizona State University where she taught courses in cross-media design solutions, multimedia, information design and usability, and portfolio design and presentation.

She received her PhD from the University of Arizona in higher education with an emphasis in sociotechnology, and a minor in media arts. She received her Master of Technology degree in graphic communications technology and her BA in art education/commercial art from Arizona State University .

Dr. Harris came to the university with many years of industry experience in information design, illustration, and computer graphics. She was the art director of The Phoenix Gazette , the computer graphics production manager at Phoenix Newspapers, Inc., an editorial illustrator for The Arizona Republic , the creative director of a Phoenix advertising company, and the owner and consultant of Harris Studio, a computer graphic consultation and creative business.

Her research is centered in the IDeaLaboratory, a creative thinking and cross-media solutions laboratory. She is the recipient of the 2005 Electronic Document Systems Foundations research grant, 2006 Women & Philanthropy grant, the 2006 Arizona Board of Regents grant, the 2006 Hewlett Packard grant, and the 2007-2008 National Science Foundation enVISIONS grant.

Dr. Harris is serving as the Director of Publications/Editor of the Engineering Design Graphics Journal. Dr. Harris was the founder and co-director of the Arizona State University online graduate program. Dr. Harris served as the 2004-2005 chair of the ASU Commission on the Status of Women for ASU, 2006 National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) University Division Region 5 Director, and chair of the College of Science and Technology Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

She is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), the Engineering Design Graphics Division (EDGD) and the International Graphic Arts Education Association (IGAEA).