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Dr. Kim Harrington shares her award-winning 30-year career journey from residence hall director to executive leadership positions, exploring how authentic leadership and community building shape higher education.

• Serving as a hall director provided the best leadership training ground by developing skills in crisis management, supervision, facilities oversight, and budget administration
• Being invited as the commencement speaker at her alma mater SUNY Fredonia was a surprising honor that reconnected her with her higher education roots
• Creating community is a consistent thread throughout her career - providing spaces where people feel supported, challenged, and able to develop
• The chief of staff role requires building trust, demonstrating humility, and serving as an "honest broker" connecting different parts of the organization
• Approaching organizational politics with authenticity rather than game-playing has allowed her to maintain integrity even during challenging institutional periods
• Weathering 21 ethics complaints while leading HR taught valuable lessons about staying true to personal values
• Leadership requires balancing supportive relationships with clear expectations and accountability

Guest Biography:

Dr. Kim D. Harrington is a seasoned leader in higher education, bringing over 30 years of experience in shaping campus culture, driving strategic planning, and advancing inclusive leadership. Her tenure at Georgia Tech spans more than two decades, where she has served in key roles including Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance, and most recently, Associate Vice President for Arts, Belonging, and Community.

Throughout her career, Dr. Harrington has been deeply committed to student development, staff engagement, and organizational growth. Her leadership has consistently focused on building community through, mission-aligned environments that foster both excellence and belonging.

Beyond campus, Dr. Harrington contributes her expertise through board service with organizations focused on education, governance, and child advocacy. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she continues her lifelong commitment to public service and community uplift.

She has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the USG Chancellor’s Gold Service Excellence Leadership Award and the ACUI Butts-Whiting Award. As she prepares for retirement in 2025, her legacy continues through the newly established Dr. Kim D. Harrington Student Employee Scholarship at Georgia Tech.