MEET OUR CEO
Energy, ambition, and passion are terms to describe Harkness' professional career trajectory. After graduating North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies and Community Development, Harkness obtained a Master of Legal Studies degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Harkness is certified in Business Analytics and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace.
Harkness led the following special projects at Legal Aid of North Carolina: staffing the Affordable Care Act Helpline for North Carolina residents, recruiting pro bono attorneys for the Lawyer on the Line program, and hosting a televised Call-for-All day coordinating volunteer attorneys to provide legal advice to residents statewide.
In 2016, Harkness moved to upstate New York to develop and manage a project under the Legal Service’s Corporation Pro Bono Innovation Fund, a federal grant. This grant combined innovative remote technology solutions with legal services providers to expand the reach of legal services in rural counties in upstate New York. Here she developed and fostered an interest in anti-discrimination laws, priority-setting, and Equal Employment and Affirmative Action policies.
This role combined her interests in technology, public service and law. Harkness' efforts led to developing one of the first innovative, remote pro bono programs, that is now being replicated by law firms, law schools and bar associations throughout the country. Harkness recruited, trained, and managed volunteer advocates within and outside of New York State, all from different walks of life as far as New Zealand, St. Kitts, The Netherlands, and Pakistan, to provide legal services to people facing eviction and facing civil judgments.
In 2018, Harkness was recognized with the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Exemplary Community Service Award (formerly known as Distinguished Non-Attorney Award) which recognizes a distinguished individual’s service to the greater Capital District community, promotes the advancement of women who are involved in or affected by the legal system, and provides other sustained acts of public service and community education.
Harkness has facilitated presentations and workshops at the following conferences:
- ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference
- Civil Legal Aid Technology Conference
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Regional Conference
- NYS Partnership Conference
- Pro Bono Institute Annual Conference
- Technology Initiative Grants Conference
Harkness' career background includes serving as:
- Interim Private Attorney Involvement Director, Legal Aid Society NENY
- Program Manager, Government Law Center at Albany Law School, City of Albany Community Police Review Board
- Deputy Chief/Chief/On-Call Director, City of Rochester, Police Accountability Board
- Assistant Director of Enterprise Planning and Development at New York State Teachers' Retirement System
In her free time, Harkness serves as the Board Chair of Support the Port, Inc. a North Carolina nonprofit that enhances, cultivates and provides a renewed sense of community ownership and excellence for underserved communities, she was among the first cohort of the Spectrum Pay-it-Forward program and the Professional Development Consortium’s Valuing Inclusion, Belonging & Equity with Suppliers (VIBES) program, and has served as a New Leaders Council Fellow.
Today, Harkness enjoys working with groups on implementing equitable policies, procedures, processes, and practices into their businesses and institutions. Her wellness activities include traveling the world engaging in cultural experiences.
