Anoka Tech welcomes Dimitria Harding as Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs

Anoka Technical College is pleased to welcome Dr. Dimitria Harding as its Interim Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. 

Harding brings a wealth of career and technical education experience, to the position.

“I’m excited about where Anoka Tech wants to go with our Minnesota State Equity 2030 goals and what we want to do with the achievement gap as a state system,” she said. “I want to look at new programs that make sense. I want to empower faculty and staff to be themselves and resilient in challenging times.”

Harding knows a thing or two about being resilient in challenging times. A trained cytotechnologist, a laboratory professional who analyzes cells for the presence of cancer and other diseases, her career path detoured.
“One day I was screening, and they came in and said, ‘we’re going to close down your lab.’

“I never saw myself in education,” Harding says, “but I’ve always had a knack for explaining things.”

That knack led her from her lab to a teaching position as adjunct faculty, to full-time faculty and on through the ranks of program director, department chair and dean, most recently serving as Dean of Health Sciences and Dean of Career and Technical Education at South Central College. 

In addition to being employed as a cytotechnologist, Harding is a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS), Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS). Harding has taught in the Allied Health area, and was a Program Director in Allied Health, Medical Assistant, and Medical Billing and Coding.   
 
She hopes that breadth and depth of experience will help her make Anoka Tech a positive place for all – students, faculty and staff. 

“I just think about as a student, as an employee, I’ve had places where I was in the parking lot and thinking, ‘Okay. Here we go. Another day. I just can’t wait until it’s over,’” she says. “That’s not what I want for anywhere that I’m working or anyone I’m working alongside, including our student. Once you get here, in this parking lot, I want you to look forward to coming here.” 

Dr. Harding holds multiple diplomas from Penn Foster Education Services, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Old Dominion University, and Ed.D. from Argosy University. She is currently completing a Doctorate in Business Administration at the University of the Potomac.  

She is an active member of several leadership cohorts including the Postsecondary State CTE Leaders Fellowship at Advance CTE, the AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education and the Elizabeth Kearney Women’s Leadership Program.