Stephen Harmon is the associate dean of research in Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE), the Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U) executive director and professor at the Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design. At GTPE and C21U, he leads the invention, prototyping, and validation efforts associated with educational innovation and manages facilities available to all Georgia Tech researchers and faculty members.

His previous position was professor and chair of the Learning Technologies Division in the College of Education and Human Development at Georgia State University.

A global perspective marks Harmon's journey in the field of educational technology. 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. For the last few years, he has focused on eLearning, particularly synchronous online learning environments. He is a past president of the Association of Educational Communications and Technology, an international professional association of thousands of educators and others whose activities are directed toward improving instruction through technology. 

Harmon also researches educational technology in developing countries. He has worked in several Middle Eastern and African countries, including as a consultant for USAID's Education for Development and Democracy Initiative in Botswana.

Harmon has over 120 professional publications and presentations. He was the 2011 recipient of Georgia State University's Innovative Instruction Award and the spring 2016 commencement speaker at Georgia Southern University.