“The Delaware Business Times created the Person of the Year to feature and spotlight one person who has done the most to influence Delaware’s economy in a particular year,” says Katie Tabeling, editor of Delaware Business Times. “In a state with 222 impactful leaders, we decided to highlight one of them who stood head and shoulders above the rest.”

They chose Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon as the publication’s first Person of the Year, an honor introduced in its Delaware 222 supplement. As its name suggests, Delaware 222 recognizes 222 of Delaware’s most influential business, nonprofit and civic leaders. Being singled out from among this accomplished group as the inaugural Person of the Year underscores the reach and significance of Dr. Harmon’s work and the University’s economic impact on the First State.

According to Tabeling, the Delaware Business Times sought leaders who delivered strong results over the past year or introduced game-changing products or services. The selection committee also weighed nominees’ successes in leading transformations with strong outcomes and in expanding their organization’s reach or overall impact on Delaware’s economy.

Under Dr. Harmon’s leadership, Wilmington University has expanded educational access for students of all ages and backgrounds, many of whom live and work in Delaware. Through a wide range of new or enhanced programs, WilmU graduates serve as educators, health care professionals, public safety officials, IT specialists and business and community leaders whose daily contributions strengthen the state’s workforce and quality of life. A focus on opportunity, student success, and strong community partnerships—and her consistent advocacy for collaborative teams that bring faculty, staff, and community partners together on behalf of students—have defined her tenure.

“In our first year naming a Person of the Year, our team selected Dr. Harmon not only because she is blazing a trail with innovative programs—such as the state’s first nurse anesthesiology program and a new, high-demand law school—but also because, behind the scenes and throughout her career at WilmU, she has helped shape the University’s mission of creating affordable education and upskilling options for Delawareans of all ages,” says Tabeling. “As an example of the promise WilmU offers, Dr. Harmon worked her way up from being assistant to the president to president herself, reflecting the same commitment to accessibility and advancement that defines the University’s mission.”

Dr. Harmon’s recognition was first announced at the inaugural Delaware 222 reception at the Delaware Art Museum on Dec. 3, 2025. She offered words of thanks to the Delaware Business Times and Today Media teams and acknowledged the leaders named to the 222 list. The moment reflected Dr. Harmon’s many achievements and Wilmington University’s role as a key partner in Delaware’s growth and future.