Michael G. Harsh began his teaching career in Speech, Drama, and English at St. Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown, Maryland (1974-79). From 1979 to 1983 he was Executive Director of the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown and for two years was a management consultant to the Weinberg Center for the Performing Arts in Frederick. After teaching part-time at Hagerstown Junior College for seven years, he joined the staff full-time in 1983, became a full-time assistant professor in 1986, and was promoted to associate professor in 1992, and became a full professor as of Fall, 1999.

Professor Harsh received his B.S. in communication arts and science from Towson State University and his M.L.A. in humanities from Western Maryland College. He received a certificate of advanced studies from George Mason University in May of 1995 and is currently working toward a Doctor of Arts degree. He is also a nationally certified leadership instructor through the Phi Theta Kappa and Kellogg Foundation Leadership Development program. Mike recently received the David Pierce award for excellence in teaching at the annual leadership conference hosted by North Carolina State University. He has been involved with a National Science Foundation grant for the past four years, developing and testing a SCANS skills communication cd\rom for use in the basic human communication course in community colleges across the nation. Mike has also been listed in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" for the past two years.

He has designed and presented listening and communication workshops since 1985. Clients include Mack Trucks, Inc., the Washington County Hospital Association, the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Professional Secretaries International, Potomac Edison, and the Washington County Government.

Mike currently serves as a member of the Saint Maria Goretti School Board, and he is an active lector and Eucharistic minister at his parish of Saint Augustine's in Williamsport.

A native of Williamsport, Maryland, Professor Harsh is a former three-term member of the Williamsport Town Council. He and his wife, Linda, have three daughters.