Harrington Takes Reins of Center for Work and Family

By Reid Oslin
Staff Writer

Harrington(Photo By Lee Pelligrini)

The former computer corporation executive once had a 3,000-mile commute to work and he could be reached at seven different telephone numbers. During that period, Harrington and his wife Annie, a full-time college administrator, were raising three young children, caring for an aged and ill parent and each was attempting to finish work on a doctoral degree.

"Life was complicated," Harrington said, deftly understating the last 10 years of his business career.

But such trials made him a champion of effective work-life issue strategies, and he brings both significant experiences and practical ideas to his new role at the center.

Formerly managing director for the Center for Corporate Citizenship, Harrington succeeded Rachel Pruchno, who was appointed as director of Initiatives in Aging. He said he sees the center's mission as continuing to "look at work-life issues through a broad lens" by working with corporations to understand the specific issues and strategies important to employees, such as flexible work arrangements and child care issues.

Harrington, who holds a master's degree in psychology from BC, spent 20 years in various executive positions for the Hewlett-Packard Corp., both in this country and in the United Kingdom.

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