Dr. Eric Darr, Ph.D. '81
Outstanding Achievement in a Chosen Profession
Eric is a “home town” man. He grew up in Shiremanstown and graduated from Mechanicsburg High School in the Class of 1981. While in high school Eric was on the yearbook staff, was part of the gifted program, National Honor Society, and was an outstanding athlete.
As a four year varsity swimmer, Eric qualified for the State Swimming Meet. He placed 7th in the butterfly and was a member of the Freestyle relay placing 8th. Academically he was in the top 1% of his graduation class.
Upon graduation Eric was enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1985. While there he was a member of the swim team and held several swimming records.
Eric began working in Phoenix designing turbine engines. Several years later he moved back east and again enrolled in RPI. In 1988 he completed his studies and earned a Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Psychology. From there Eric traveled to Pittsburgh to enroll in Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He continued his education there and in 1991 earned his second Masters of Science degree in Organizational Behavior. While at CMU he studied under Nobel Prize Winner and noted organizational theorist Herbert Simon and in 1994 earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Administration.
Eric’s travels again took him west to Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles. He conducted research and consulted in over twenty multinational corporations, including Arthur Andersen, Gemini Consulting, TRW Space and Electronics, Hughes Aerospace, Bank of America, Xerox, British Airways and Qantas Airlines.
Dr. Darr also developed and taught Doctoral and MBA courses at UCLA in organizational learning, organizational change, organization design, process reengineering, business strategy and technology management. Further, he developed and taught executive education courses in measuring intellectual capital, corporate renewal, managing information technology resources, improving product development and creating organizational memory. During this time period he also published numerous articles and book chapters on organizational learning, learning technologies and competitive advantage. In addition, he was an invited speaker at universities in the United States, Austria, Great Britain, France, Australia and the Netherlands. His research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Center for International Business Educational and Research at UCLA.
Eric eventually left UCLA to lead Ernst & Young’s Knowledge Management Consulting Services from 1997 to 2000. Dr. Darr once more moved back home to serve as Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2004 at Knowledge Planet, Inc., a software company located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
In 2004, after serving as a consultant to help create Harrisburg University, Eric joined full-time as the founding Vice President of Finance and Administration. He has served as a member of the faculty, Executive Vice President, Provost, and Interim President until he was named Harrisburg University President in 2013.
Under his leadership the Market Street Tower was completed in 2009 which added more classrooms and laboratory space to meet the needs of growing academic programs and enrollment. Over the years 2013 to 2019, Harrisburg University’s enrollment has grown from 500 to nearly 7,000 students. In addition, the university has added 33 new graduate and
undergraduate concentrations and degree programs. Plus, faculty have secured many grants and student scholarship support. Also, Dr. Darr has initiated housing projects, has opened two facilities and is presently securing a third. One of the new facilities is located in center-city Philadelphia with about 400 students.
A well-known need in the Harrisburg area is for health care professionals. Robert Ortenzio, co-founder of Select Medical Corporation, who sits on the University’s Board of Trustees, says “the shortage is dramatic.” So, Harrisburg University purchased a property in Harrisburg City and foresees construction of a $100 million multi-story building being completed in 2021 to begin meeting those needs.
Dr. Darr’s dream was always to “build a university.” He often says, “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The “Rocket Scientist of Central PA” is well on his way to fulfilling his hopes and dreams.
As a four year varsity swimmer, Eric qualified for the State Swimming Meet. He placed 7th in the butterfly and was a member of the Freestyle relay placing 8th. Academically he was in the top 1% of his graduation class.
Upon graduation Eric was enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1985. While there he was a member of the swim team and held several swimming records.
Eric began working in Phoenix designing turbine engines. Several years later he moved back east and again enrolled in RPI. In 1988 he completed his studies and earned a Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Psychology. From there Eric traveled to Pittsburgh to enroll in Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He continued his education there and in 1991 earned his second Masters of Science degree in Organizational Behavior. While at CMU he studied under Nobel Prize Winner and noted organizational theorist Herbert Simon and in 1994 earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Administration.
Eric’s travels again took him west to Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles. He conducted research and consulted in over twenty multinational corporations, including Arthur Andersen, Gemini Consulting, TRW Space and Electronics, Hughes Aerospace, Bank of America, Xerox, British Airways and Qantas Airlines.
Dr. Darr also developed and taught Doctoral and MBA courses at UCLA in organizational learning, organizational change, organization design, process reengineering, business strategy and technology management. Further, he developed and taught executive education courses in measuring intellectual capital, corporate renewal, managing information technology resources, improving product development and creating organizational memory. During this time period he also published numerous articles and book chapters on organizational learning, learning technologies and competitive advantage. In addition, he was an invited speaker at universities in the United States, Austria, Great Britain, France, Australia and the Netherlands. His research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Center for International Business Educational and Research at UCLA.
Eric eventually left UCLA to lead Ernst & Young’s Knowledge Management Consulting Services from 1997 to 2000. Dr. Darr once more moved back home to serve as Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2004 at Knowledge Planet, Inc., a software company located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
In 2004, after serving as a consultant to help create Harrisburg University, Eric joined full-time as the founding Vice President of Finance and Administration. He has served as a member of the faculty, Executive Vice President, Provost, and Interim President until he was named Harrisburg University President in 2013.
Under his leadership the Market Street Tower was completed in 2009 which added more classrooms and laboratory space to meet the needs of growing academic programs and enrollment. Over the years 2013 to 2019, Harrisburg University’s enrollment has grown from 500 to nearly 7,000 students. In addition, the university has added 33 new graduate and
undergraduate concentrations and degree programs. Plus, faculty have secured many grants and student scholarship support. Also, Dr. Darr has initiated housing projects, has opened two facilities and is presently securing a third. One of the new facilities is located in center-city Philadelphia with about 400 students.
A well-known need in the Harrisburg area is for health care professionals. Robert Ortenzio, co-founder of Select Medical Corporation, who sits on the University’s Board of Trustees, says “the shortage is dramatic.” So, Harrisburg University purchased a property in Harrisburg City and foresees construction of a $100 million multi-story building being completed in 2021 to begin meeting those needs.
Dr. Darr’s dream was always to “build a university.” He often says, “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The “Rocket Scientist of Central PA” is well on his way to fulfilling his hopes and dreams.