Harrington to lead Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Linda Harrington is the new director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VR). She replaces George McCoy, who retired from the department after 31 years of service.

“Linda will be a great asset to the division,” said DHHS Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom. “She has proven that she is a capable leader and she brings a wealth of knowledge on issues facing our consumers to this position. I look forward to working with her on the challenges and new opportunities at VR.”

"I am very excited that the secretary has given me this opportunity to work with the wonderful team at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services,” said Harrington. “The past month of shadowing George McCoy has been inspiring. I am very impressed with the staff and am looking forward to guiding the organizational and cultural change process that George started.

“Leaving DSDHH (Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) was not an easy decision, but it was made easier by the fact that they have a great acting director in Jan Withers and a wonderful management team. I leave DSDHH confident that all will be well there."

Harrington served as director of DSDHH since January of 2002. She joined DHHS in March, 2000, as the specialist for program evaluation and research at DSDHH. In that capacity she has worked to assist the division in developing new accountability methods. She also managed three statewide programs: interpreter development, interpreter testing and classification, and hard of hearing and assistive technology services.

Prior to joining DSDHH she worked with Wake County Human Services providing mental health services to deaf, deaf/blind, hard of hearing and deafened adults. She received her master’s degree in social work from the Jane Adams School of Social Work at University of Illinois. She is a native of Chicago.

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