Judith Harrington

During Judith Harrington’s 38-year tenure in the UNI Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, she not only left a lasting impact on students but also served as chair of the faculty, reshaping faculty governance and advancing equity for women. 

Harrington served as a professor in UNI’s Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders from 1965 to 2003, becoming one of the institution's most respected and enduring faculty members. 

She was well-known in her area of specialty — cleft palate disorders. In the department, she taught classes, served as an advisor, conducted and presented research and supervised student clinicians. In the classroom, Harrington trained generations of speech-language pathologists, known for her rigorous courses and high expectations of her students.

Many of Harrington’s students went on to become educators in the field themselves. “I think of Judith as a role model and strive to be as good a mentor to my students as she was for me, ” said former student Victoria Tumanova, in a Waterloo Courier profile of Harrington when recognized as part of its annual “Eight Over 80.”

Not just a leader in her field, Judith Harrington’s legacy expands throughout the university. 

In 1974, she initiated a class action lawsuit challenging inequitable salaries for female employees at UNI. At the time, the decision came with risks as women who spoke out faced retaliation, keeping many silent out of fear.

“An important part of standing up to be counted meant doing so not for my personal self-respect only, but for others who believe they couldn’t participate,” Harrington said when recounting the experience for the Cedar Falls Historical Society. 

After four years, the lawsuit succeeded, resulting in a $95,000 settlement and a shift toward equal pay.

She also pushed to be considered for tenure after marrying UNI professor Gordon Harrington in 1966, overcoming a policy that women faculty could not receive tenure if married to other faculty. By challenging this, she not only received her own tenure but also helped others earn theirs. 

“I left that meeting knowing I had stood up to be counted,” she said. “But had no idea at the time that it wasn’t only for myself.”

She served as vice chair of the University Faculty Senate before going on to chair the Senate and later being elected University Faculty Chair, becoming one of the early women to hold these leadership roles. Harrington chaired the Faculty Senate during the transition to collective bargaining and later served as faculty chair when the decision was made to allow ROTC on campus. She also played a key role in evaluating university leadership, including President James L. Kamerick and Vice President James G. Martin in 1978.

Harrington described her style of leadership as “to attempt a sense of informality without becoming so informal as to lose sight of the objectives. I want to encourage as much discussion as possible.”

Over the decades, she served on departmental, collegiate and university committees, helping to shape the policies and procedures that guide faculty today. 

When nominating Harrington to be considered for the UNI People You Should Know, former colleague Paul Rider said Harrington was “influential in providing leadership in many efforts that helped UNI grow into one of the top comprehensive universities in the country.”

Harrington’s commitment to service expanded to the surrounding community. In the Cedar Valley, she contributed to numerous organizations, including the Human Rights Commission, Cedar Falls Tourism Center, the Cedar Basin Jazz Festival and the Cedar Falls Historical Society. 

Even in retirement, as an emerita professor, she remains connected to UNI, serving in leadership roles within the Emeritus Association and continuing to support the academic community. 

“Judy embodies the values of UNI through academic freedom, being welcoming to all, serving the university and community with integrity, collaborating across disciplines and agencies, building community, empowering faculty, students and alumni, committing to the highest levels of achievement and being a good steward,” said Jennifer Garrett, head of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders. “She was an amazing mentor and advisor to students across her 38 years at UNI.”