February 8, 2022
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) has named Thomas F. Harbison, as Director of Digital Education. Harbison had served as Associate Director of Digital Education from June 2020 up to this appointment on February 7. He joined BMCC in 2018 as an instructional designer and multimedia manager in Digital Education.
In his new role, Mr. Harbison will oversee the E-Learning Center operations and budget. He will also supervise the Digital Education team that supports the college community in its use of digital teaching and learning tools including Blackboard and Zoom.
The BMCC E-Learning Center is a unit of the Office of Academic Affairs and leads the college’s efforts to foster, support and promote excellence in teaching and learning in online, hybrid and web-enhanced courses, as well as improve student outcomes through teaching and learning technologies.
“The Office of Academic Affairs is extremely pleased that Tom Harbison will serve as the BMCC Director of Digital Education,” said Erwin Wong, Provost and Senior Vice President at BMCC. “He brings extensive knowledge and experience in 21st century technology and pedagogy to the position.”
Provost Wong said Harbison played a critical role in assisting faculty and students when BMCC had to quickly pivot to online instruction during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Director Harbison will continue collaborating with our faculty and staff to promote excellence in teaching and learning in our online, hybrid and web-enhanced courses and programs to ensure that our students’ academic goals are achieved,” said the Provost.
Harbison assumes the BMCC position at a time when technology’s role in education continues to expand.
“It is an honor to serve in the role of Director of Digital Education at BMCC during this time of vast technological change and rapid growth of online education,” said Harbison. “ I look forward to continuing to work with our amazing students, faculty and staff to enrich and expand online learning experiences across our academic community.”
Harbison earned a B.A. in History from Duke University in 1999, a MS degree in U.S. History from Southern Connecticut State University in 2003 and a Ph.D in U.S. History as well as a minor in Modern European History from The Graduate Center, CUNY in 2011. He has authored numerous publications and delivered presentations on digital education and the role of technological tools in expanding equity and opportunity.
BMCC’s Digital Education programs align with BMCC’s strategic goals including goal #4, improving completion and transfer rates through integrated support services.
- Harbison will oversee E-Learning Center and lead colleges efforts to promote excellence in teaching and learning online
- New director first joined BMCC in 2018
- E-Learning Center is unit of Office of Academic Affairs
