Terrius Harris is an innovative policy strategist and coalition-builder, now serving as the Senior Program Manager for the Midwest at NPCA. With experience advancing equity-centered initiatives, his career spans education, economic development, and climate justice, driven by a steadfast commitment to community-led conservation and cultural preservation.

Before joining NPCA, Terrius served as the Director of Indigenous Partnerships and Inclusive Economy at the American Sustainable Business Network, where he led national initiatives to expand Tribal economic sovereignty, strengthen climate resilience, and bridge public-private investment in conservation. He founded the Catalyzing Indigenous Enterprise & Economic Development (CIEED) Program and co-facilitated a landmark public-private Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of the Interior, mobilizing resources for over 100 Tribal Nations and Native-led organizations. He also designed and launched the Indigenous Youth Climate Resiliency Through Public Policy Program, training emerging leaders to shape policy on climate, education, and land stewardship.

Previously, Terrius served as a Legislative Policy Fellow for U.S. Senator Brian Schatz in Washington, D.C., where he advanced policies on climate resilience, rural economic development, and Indigenous education. His experience also includes leading national recruitment and partnership efforts at Teach For America as Director of Native Recruitment, where he built cross-sector alliances to increase Native educator representation and embedded Indigenous knowledge systems into national strategies. Earlier in his career, he taught International Baccalaureate Mathematics in Hawaiʻi through Teach For America, developing culturally grounded curricula and spearheading student civic engagement initiatives at the state capitol.

An Obama Foundation Scholar, Fulbright-Hays Scholar, and proud Afro-Indigenous, Ñuu Savi leader, Terrius holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago and a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma, along with bachelor’s degrees in International Business, French, and General Studies from the University of Mississippi. Recognized for his visionary leadership and dedication to equity, he has been honored to represent his community and work through various panels and fellowship programs.

Now rooted in the Midwest, Terrius lives in Chicago, where he brings his passion for cultural preservation, inclusive growth, and collective action to NPCA, where he is advancing community-based strategies to protect and uplift the region’s diverse natural and cultural landscapes.