Sandra Harris-Hooker, Ph.D., graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1974 with a degree in biology. She earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta University), in Atlanta, Georgia in 1978.

Upon completion of her Ph.D., Dr. Harris-Hooker spent 3 years of postdoctoral training in the Department of Pathology at the University of Washington, in Seattle, Washington. After this training in Seattle, she served on the faculty in the Department of Pathology at Boston University School of Medicine before joining the faculty at MSM, in Atlanta, Georgia in 1983.

As a member of the faculty of Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Harris-Hooker is currently Associate Dean for Research Development, as well as Associate Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Medicine. In addition to this, she is also the Director of the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, a program dedicated to the development of future biomedical research scholars. Along with this, she is also the treasurer of the Morehouse School of Medicine Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society

With professional training in Cell Biology, and postgraduate emphasis in Cardiovascular Pathology, Dr. Harris-Hooker has worked in the area of vascular cell biology for over 20 years, studying endothelial dysfunctions involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. While her primary research area is vascular biology, she is also interested in ways by which to enhance the integration of basic, clinical and population-based research in order to address disparities in health.

To further supplement her interest in addressing disparities in health, Dr. Harris-Hooker serves as Deputy Director for the Center for Excellence on Health Disparities. To bridge the gap between basic, clinical and population-based research, she belongs to a number of organizations, including the International Society on Hypertension in Blacks, the American Heart Association, the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology, the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Society of Sigma Xi. .

Dr. Harris-Hooker also serves in an advisory capacity on several external committees such as the National Institute of General Medical Sciences/MORE Programs Advisory Committee, the International Society for Hypertension in Blacks Scientific Planning Committee, the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Review Subcommittee, and the National Science foundation Research in Minority Institutions (RIMI) Subcommittee for Atlanta University Center and several committees within the American Heart Association.

Dr. Harris-Hooker and her husband, Charles, have been married for many years and have one daughter, Ashley.