From Students to Employees, Harrington Switches Gears

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From Students to Employees, Harrington Switches Gears






By
Victor Rogers | July 24, 2017
• Atlanta, GA








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Kim Harrington, associate vice president of Human Resources, has been at Tech for 16 years.





While most Georgia Tech seniors are eager to “get out,” many Institute employees spend seasons of their career here, including Kim D. Harrington. 

Harrington is the associate vice president of Georgia Tech Human Resources. Since her arrival in 2001, she has served Georgia Tech’s campus, its students, and employees in impactful leadership roles. 

Harrington spent 14 years supporting the student experience through her work in the Student Center. When Paul Strouts, vice president of Campus Services, asked Harrington to take the helm of Human Resources as interim AVP in 2015, it was with the understanding the appointment would only last a couple of months. 

“Never in a million years did I envision this opportunity,” said Harrington, who holds a master’s degree in counseling and educational psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a doctorate in educational psychology from Georgia State University. 

Strouts selected Harrington for the interim role based on her diverse higher education experience, team orientation, and leadership ability. Confident HR was in capable hands, Strouts spent the following months determining the qualifications and experience necessary for a candidate who could lead the department permanently. 

After about six months in the role at HR, Harrington asked Strouts about returning to her post at the Student Center. However, Strouts had received positive feedback from HR and the campus – they wanted her to stay.

Harrington served as the interim AVP for roughly 10 months before participating in 15 rigorous Institute-wide interviews for the permanent role. Strouts officially appointed her the new AVP of HR in November 2015. Today, Harrington thoroughly enjoys the job and the unique perspective afforded to her.  

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