Nancy D. Harrington is leading Salem State College through a second decade of continued growth and expansion. It seems fitting that, as this historic institution prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2004, it will do so with a president who has been associated with the school since she was 16 years old.

A lifelong resident of Salem, Harrington arrived in 1956 as a freshman in pursuit of a degree in education. The college granted her a bachelor's degree in 1960 and a master's degree in 1963.

Except for a three-year stint as a teacher in West Peabody, Harrington has remained part of the college. While pursuing a doctorate at Boston University, she began to climb through the ranks of teacher, supervisor, principal, dean and vice president of academic affairs.

When she was named the 12th president of Salem State College in 1990, she became not only the first woman to hold that position, but also the first Salem native as well as the first graduate of the college.

Harrington's first order of business as president was to negotiate the purchase of the former GTE site on Loring Avenue. She has since presided over a vision for the college's new Central Campus which opened in September with new facilities for the School of Business, the Music Department and Information Technology. Soon the 37- acre site will feature a new 450-bed residential hall and a new Center for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Dr. Harrington has also initiated and directed the development of the Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Business Administration programs, each the first of its kind in the Commonwealth's state colleges. She has played a key role in the development of the College's Master of Social Work Program, the only such program in the Massachusetts public higher education system.

In May, Boston University recognized Harrington's service to her Alma Mater and the Salem community by presenting her with its distinguished Ida M. Johnson Award. She has also recently been appointed to the Council of State Representatives for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). She is a member of the Board of Trustees, Salem Hospital; Executive Committee, Salem Partnership; Executive Committee and Vice Chair, Business Development Committee, North Shore Chamber of Commerce; Commissioner, Essex National Heritage Commission; the Council of Presidents, State Colleges, Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Women Presidents' Group; Reaching Higher, Inc.