Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Vera King Farris
open-in-new
<h2 id="early-life-and-education">Early life and education</h2> <p>Farris was a native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, and attended <a href="/facts/Atlantic_City_High_School/2WFH8xPP">Atlantic City High School</a>, graduating third in the class of 1954. She attended Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), graduating with a degree in biology in 1959. She later earned master's and doctorate degrees in <a href="/facts/Zoology/6Kj13mBt">zoology</a> from the <a href="/facts/University_of_Massachusetts_Amherst/K7tIPJr7">University of Massachusetts Amherst</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="academic-career">Academic career</h2> <p>Farris held administrative and teaching positions at the <a href="/facts/State_University_of_New_York_at_Stony_Brook/4LwsKo7h">State University of New York at Stony Brook</a> and <a href="/facts/State_University_of_New_York_at_Brockport/9cPvqpBj">Brockport</a>, and the University of Michigan.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="college-administration">College administration</h2> <p>Farris served at Kean College (now Kean University) as vice president for academic affairs. </p><p>In 1983, she was selected as president of Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, serving until 2003. According to the college, she was the first female African-American president of a New Jersey public college, and one of the first in the nation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Farris directed the college through a period of expansion and change, increasing enrollment and adding to facilities.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> She emphasized academic excellence and is credited with leading the college to become a "nationally ranked institution, and increasing SAT scores, minority enrollment and retention."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>As a professional scientist, she supported major initiatives in <a href="/facts/Sustainability/9oYH9mAs">sustainability</a>, such as "one of the world’s largest geothermal heating and cooling systems."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> Capital construction during her term included the Sports Center, West Quad Health Sciences Building, and the Arts and Sciences Building, designed by the internationally known architect, <a href="/facts/Michael_Graves/2CdAL8vH">Michael Graves</a>. The college also adopted practices to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. Construction of residential buildings increased the appeal of the campus for students. </p><p>Farris established "one of the nation's first Holocaust Resource Centers and the first Master's program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> She also endowed a chair in the department in her mother's name.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="civic-life">Civic life</h2> <p>Farris was the first <a href="/facts/African-American/pTgcAdo8">African-American</a> woman selected for the board of directors of <a href="/facts/Flagstar_Companies/v8dIdlkw">Flagstar Companies</a>, owner of <a href="/facts/Denny%2527s/9fbVCgFB">Denny's</a> Restaurants.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> She was a member of Seaview Baptist Church in <a href="/facts/Linwood%2c_New_Jersey/Gc7n09vB">Linwood, New Jersey</a>, for more than 25 years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p><p>Farris retired to <a href="/facts/Galloway_Township%2c_New_Jersey/4oop2YAD">Galloway Township, New Jersey</a>. Upon her retirement in 2003, the college renamed its main road "Vera King Farris Drive" in her honor.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> She died on November 28, 2009, in <a href="/facts/Pomona%2c_New_Jersey/3BzBz9WL">Pomona, New Jersey</a>, at the age of 71 after a brief illness and is buried in Germania Cemetery in Galloway Township.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="legacy-and-honors">Legacy and honors</h2> <ul><li>1992, named New Jersey Woman of the Year.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li>1994, named New Jersey Policymaker of the Year by Executive Women of New Jersey.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></li> <li>Through the years, she was awarded multiple honorary doctorate degrees from other educational institutions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a></li> <li>2003, Stockton College named its main road as "Vera King Farris Drive" in her honor.</li></ul> <p>2003- Stockton college paid 75k to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit after a male vice president rejected her advances.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/editorials/article_aa55c384-b1bc-5391-ae1a-3dc66c0c2e35.html">"Vera King Farris / A true presence"</a>, <i><a href="/facts/The_Press_of_Atlantic_City/0GtjYmaj">The Press of Atlantic City</a></i> (Editorial), November 29, 2009.</li> <li><a href="http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=124&pageID=48">"In Memoriam – Dr. Vera King Farris"</a>, Saatkamp Jr., Dr. Herman J., Office of the President, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. Accessed November 30, 2009.</li> <li><a href="http://www.legacy.com/pressofatlanticcity/Obituaries.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=136763789">Obituary</a>, <i>The Press of Atlantic City</i>, December 2, 2009.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>D&rsquo, Diane (April 17, 2023). "Friends, family remember Farris' faith and dedication". Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Vera King Farris, Stockton college's longest-serving president, dies after short illness". Press of Atlantic City. April 17, 2023. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/education/vera-king-farris-stockton-colleges-longest-serving-president-dies-after-short-illness/article_fd19b764-dc38-11de-ad35-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/education/vera-king-farris-stockton-colleges-longest-serving-president-dies-after-short-illness/article_fd19b764-dc38-11de-ad35-001cc4c03286.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>The Associated Press (November 29, 2009). "Vera King Farris, longtime president at Richard Stockton College, dies". nj. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html" target="_blank">https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"NCAA Record"[permanent dead link], NCAA News, National Collegiate Athletic Association, March 18, 2002. <a href="http://www2.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/ncaa+news/ncaa+news+online/2002/ncaa+record/ncaa+record+-+3-18-02" target="_blank">http://www2.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/ncaa+news/ncaa+news+online/2002/ncaa+record/ncaa+record+-+3-18-02</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>The Associated Press (November 29, 2009). "Vera King Farris, longtime president at Richard Stockton College, dies". nj. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html" target="_blank">https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Vera King Farris, Stockton college's longest-serving president, dies after short illness". Press of Atlantic City. April 17, 2023. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/education/vera-king-farris-stockton-colleges-longest-serving-president-dies-after-short-illness/article_fd19b764-dc38-11de-ad35-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/education/vera-king-farris-stockton-colleges-longest-serving-president-dies-after-short-illness/article_fd19b764-dc38-11de-ad35-001cc4c03286.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Dr. Vera King Farris" Archived October 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Tuskegee University, accessed November 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452" target="_blank">http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>The Associated Press (November 29, 2009). "Vera King Farris, longtime president at Richard Stockton College, dies". nj. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html" target="_blank">https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>The Associated Press (November 29, 2009). "Vera King Farris, longtime president at Richard Stockton College, dies". nj. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html" target="_blank">https://www.nj.com/news/2009/11/vera_king_farris_longtime_pres.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Office of the President". Stockton University. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=201&pageID=39" target="_blank">http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=201&pageID=39</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Office of the President". Stockton University. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=201&pageID=39" target="_blank">http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=201&pageID=39</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Office of the President". Stockton University. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=201&pageID=39" target="_blank">http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=201&pageID=39</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>D&rsquo, Diane (April 17, 2023). "Friends, family remember Farris' faith and dedication". Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>D&rsquo, Diane (April 17, 2023). "Friends, family remember Farris' faith and dedication". Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"Dr. Vera King Farris" Archived October 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Tuskegee University, accessed November 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452" target="_blank">http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>D&rsquo, Diane (April 17, 2023). "Friends, family remember Farris' faith and dedication". Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Vera King Farris, Stockton college's longest-serving president, dies after short illness". Press of Atlantic City. April 17, 2023. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/education/vera-king-farris-stockton-colleges-longest-serving-president-dies-after-short-illness/article_fd19b764-dc38-11de-ad35-001cc4c03286.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/education/vera-king-farris-stockton-colleges-longest-serving-president-dies-after-short-illness/article_fd19b764-dc38-11de-ad35-001cc4c03286.html</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>D&rsquo, Diane (April 17, 2023). "Friends, family remember Farris' faith and dedication". Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/friends-family-remember-farris-faith-and-dedication/article_5b62cdb2-e155-11de-b638-001cc4c002e0.html</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Dr. Vera King Farris" Archived October 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Tuskegee University, accessed November 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452" target="_blank">http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>"Dr. Vera King Farris" Archived October 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Tuskegee University, accessed November 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452" target="_blank">http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Dr. Vera King Farris" Archived October 26, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Tuskegee University, accessed November 28, 2009. <a href="http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452" target="_blank">http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1147452</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"College Pays $75,000 to Settle a Sexual Harassment Case". The New York Times. May 25, 2003. Retrieved April 22, 2023. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/education/college-pays-75000-to-settle-a-sexual-harassment-case.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/education/college-pays-75000-to-settle-a-sexual-harassment-case.html</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>