Twin sisters Darlene Harris and Deborah Harris were born and raised in Plainfield, NJ. They graduated from
Plainfield High School in 1980, with Deborah as Salutatorian of their class. Both graduated from Syracuse
University in 1984. Darlene earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Marketing Management.
Deborah earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering.

Upon graduation, Darlene worked at Merrill Lynch as a Margin Option Specialist until 1989. She relocated to the Washington, DC metropolitan area and continued her employment in the finance industry. Transitioning from commercial finance to campaign finance, she held several positions at the Federal Election Commission, from 1991 until 2010. As a Federal Government career employee, she is currently employed at the Internal Revenue Service.

Deborah worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories until 1998, transferring to their Washington, DC office in 1989. While employed at AT&T, she earned an M.S. degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from New York University in 1992, through the company’s grant program. She joined Northrop Grumman Information Technology in 1998 and worked as a Senior Principal Engineer until her retirement in 2013. Deborah joined the Federal Government in 2013 as an IT Specialist at the Internal Revenue Service. Darlene and Deborah attribute any success in their lives to their Christian faith. During their upbringing, they were members of Calvary Baptist Church, Plainfield, NJ and baptized as teenagers. As adults, they sang in the Young Adult Choir. Upon relocating to Washington, DC, they were members of Metropolitan Baptist Church from 1989 to
1992. While at Metropolitan Baptist, they were active participants in the Singles Ministry and volunteers in the vacation Bible School. As current members of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden for over 10 years, they are active in the S.H.A.R.E. ministry and participate in other church-wide community outreach projects.

Darlene and Deborah are Golden Life members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Both were initiated at Syracuse University, Kappa Lambda Chapter – Deborah in March 1982 and Darlene in December 1983. They were members of the Central Jersey Alumnae (CJA) Chapter for 5 years. As residents in the DC metro area, their membership in the sorority has continued in the Federal City Alumnae Chapter (FCAC) in Washington, DC. Darlene also served as a member of the National Ad Hoc Commission for Undergraduate Concerns from 1988 to 1992.

Their hobbies include attending professional sporting events, especially NBA and NFL games, and traveling
together. As season ticket holders for the Washington Bullets/Wizards since 1991, their most treasured memories have been meeting and developing close friendships with the legends they watched growing up. The most enjoyable sports trips taken are NBA All-Star weekends, playoff games and sports cruises. Other memorable trip locations are Martha’s Vineyard and Europe.

Their greatest passion is helping others afford a college education. While serving as mentors in the New Horizons College Club (1984-1989), they guided high school students in their pursuit of a college degree. They donate to the scholarship funds of New Horizons, Calvary Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Glenarden and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (CJA and FCAC). While attending Syracuse University Coming Back Together reunions (for African American and Latino alumni), they “party with a purpose” – – donating to the Delta Sigma Theta and Syracuse 8 scholarship funds under the Our Time Has Come scholarship umbrella.