Laurie Harrington has been appointed Executive Director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University. She has been serving as Acting Executive Director of the center since February 2024 and previously served as the center’s Assistant Director of Evaluation.

Laurie has been employed at the Heldrich Center for over 25 years and has conducted and led research projects covering a wide array of workforce and education programs and policies. In addition to her deep knowledge about public and nonprofit workforce programs and labor market research, she also has experience assembling and managing research teams. She is also highly skilled in communicating results to government and nonprofit agencies that fund the center’s research portfolio.

Dr. Carl Van Horn, Director of the Heldrich Center and Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, commented, "I am grateful that Laurie has agreed to lead the Heldrich Center. I know she will continue to make significant positive impacts on the quality of the center’s growing research agenda.”

Dr. Andrea Hetling, Associate Director of the Heldrich Center and Professor of Public Policy at the Bloustein School, shared, “I am thrilled that Laurie will be serving as Executive Director. She has been an integral part of the Heldrich Center for decades, and I am looking forward to working with her in this new role.”

Laurie Harrington commented, “I am so happy for the opportunity to help lead the Heldrich Center's team of outstanding researchers and administrative staff and to continue the center's important work equipping decision-makers — policymakers, educators, and job seekers — with the knowledge and information they need to be successful.”