Ann-Marie Harrington '86 has been giving back to her alma mater in various ways almost since graduation. “One of the things that attracted me to Bryant in the first place was its student-athlete program. As a recipient of a basketball and volleyball scholarship, I found myself coming back after graduation for alumni basketball games.”

The other factor that drew her to Bryant was, of course, the business program. “I had no idea as an incoming freshman what career path I wanted to follow, but I definitely recognized the value of a Bryant business degree.”

Harrington’s Bryant experience echoes so many others throughout the University’s history –strong relationships built with caring educators who go the extra mile. “English Professor Pat Keeley engaged us with his humor and command of the subject. He always helped us see the relevance of business majors learning English and literature. And Communication Professor Burton “Burt” Fischman taught us the valuable and artful skill of business writing.”

“The time we spent together - learning, playing, growing – during our University years is formative – the intense and meaningful time built and shaped us.” 

The integration of business, liberal arts, and the latest technology at Bryant has been a guiding principle of Harrington’s career. In 1998, recognizing internet trends, Harrington launched her business, Embolden Design, an award-winning web development, custom web app development, and digital marketing agency. As a visionary leader who holds a master’s degree in social work, she encouraged and supported her staff’s desire to “do good” in the community, and social impact became part of the business model. She sold the company to Crown Philanthropic Solutions in 2014. 

Now a partner at Scribo, a cybersecurity platform that allows businesses and individuals to send and receive sensitive data with an easy-to-use interface, Harrington remains firmly committed to her alma mater. “The time we spent together – learning, playing, growing – during our University years is formative. The intense and meaningful time built and shaped us,” she says. 

She has attended events, donated at the leadership level, mentored students, served on the National Alumni Council, and is now a member of the Dean’s Council in the College of Business. “I love being involved in the education of our future business leaders,” she says. “I hope I have some helpful insight into their educational needs to ready them for today’s business world.”