Suzy Harrington
Doing it All and Doing it Well
Maintaining her family, furthering her education and managing a career while trotting the globe with her Air Force husband are all in a day’s work for Dr. Suzy Harrington, this year’s ASU Distinguished Carr Alumnus.
Currently manager of the Air Force’s Health Education and Fitness Program, Harrington started her journey to success at ASU with Carr Academic and ROTC Scholarships that financed her nursing degrees. She returned the favor by graduating cum laude and as the ROTC Distinguished Graduate in 1986
"I attribute a lot of my success to the leadership opportunities offered at ASU, especially in ROTC,” Harrington said. “I also benefited greatly from the support of my professors, particularly in ROTC and nursing.”
However, Harrington’s fondest memories of ASU are mostly social, including going dancing, lake activities and late night food ventures.
“The best was my senior year,” she said. “After a late night of studying, I’d go out for beans, cheese and flour tortillas at Ricardo’s with my now-husband of 20 years.”
Since then, Harrington’s career has included various duties in the Air Force, at healthcare facilities in six states, and now in Germany. She has served as director of education, manager of clinical services, and outcomes management project director. Her nursing experience includes critical care, community health, recruiting, radiology and school health. She is also a freelance healthcare writer and has completed comprehensive projects for several respected publishing houses.
“I’m lucky that I’ve had the ability to get my doctorate and maintain a career, despite the nomadic life of a military spouse,” Harrington said. “I earned my master’s degree in three years, three states, three kids and three jobs. Now, I’m back with the Air Force in health promotion and I love my job!”
Harrington holds a master of science degree in health services from California College for Health Sciences and a doctorate of nursing practice from Rush University in healthcare business and leadership. She is married to Lt. Col. Sean Harrington, Class of 1987, and they have three children, Michelle, Tommy and Laura.