Stephen Harmon serves as the executive director of C21U and a professor in the Georgia Tech College of Design. In these roles, he leads invention, prototyping, validation, and implementation efforts related to educational innovation and strategic planning for the future of higher education.

He previously served as professor and chair of the Learning Technologies Division in the College of Education and Human Development at Georgia State University.

Harmon's journey in educational technology reflects a global perspective. After majoring in English literature at Furman University, he ventured to Upper Egypt to teach fourth-grade English for two years. His travels through the Middle East and Africa exposed him to the stark disparities in education and training resources in developing countries. This experience fueled his passion for educational technology, leading him to earn a master's and doctorate in instructional technology from the University of Georgia with a cognate in global policy studies.

Harmon’s research centers on educational uses of emerging technologies and, over the last few years, has focused on the changing dynamics of higher education, particularly with respect to AI and lifelong learning. He is a past president of the Association of Educational Communications and Technology. Harmon has over 200 professional publications and presentations and is a recipient of Georgia State University’s Innovative Instruction Award. He is also a joint recipient of the 2022 University Professional Continuing Education Association Research and Scholarship Award, the 2024 1EdTech Power Learner Potential Award, and the 2025 UPCEA Research and Scholarship Award.