Molly Harlow
“I’m excited to have my dream job that will allow me to continue to improve our LEAD and SEI programs so that we remain the best local government leadership development program in the country. I’m also passionate about equity and inclusion so I’m looking forward to continuing that work for local governments as well.”
After conducting a national search, the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service is pleased to announce that Molly Harlow has been named the Virginia Institute of Government's Assistant Director for Leadership Development. Molly’s role includes program and curriculum design for the Senior Executive Institute (SEI) and its companion program Leading, Educating, and Developing (LEAD) among other leadership development trainings. She has decades of experience working with local government teams and is a trained facilitator. Her other certifications include the Four Stages of Psychological Safety and Brene’ Brown’s Dare to Lead Teams. She is also co-leading the inaugural Virginia local government equity cohort and all diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting work conducted by VIG.
"Molly brings a wealth of expertise in leadership to her new position and I’m thrilled to promote someone so deserving of a new opportunity. She has redesigned curriculum that was in need of an overhaul, and we have already heard positive reviews about the new content. I look forward to seeing Molly thrive in her new role."
Charles Hartgrove, VIG Director.
Molly joined the Cooper Center in 2001 and has been involved in all aspects of SEI and LEAD during her tenure. She has been serving as interim assistant director since April 2021. During this time, she led the redesign of the LEAD curriculum, created the virtual Balancing Leadership program, and held our first in-person LEAD programs since the beginning of the pandemic.
Molly obtained a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology from Capella University.