In May 2026, Harmony D. Osei was appointed as the inaugural Managing Director of the CUNY Health and Opportunity Leadership Institute. In this role, Harmony is responsible for day-to-day program operations, student leadership programs, partnership development, and more. Harmony has 15+ years of experience in higher education, with expertise in student development, academic advisement, program assessment, experiential learning, and social justice. Harmony's background includes roles at Pace University, Baruch College, the Macaulay Honors College, and NYU. Harmony has published on mental health, college access disparities, student outcomes, and global experiences and identity exploration for Black individuals. Harmony has also presented on hair discrimination, community organizing, leadership strategies, Caribbean culture, and content creation. 

Harmony has a Bachelor's degree in Human Development & Family Relations from SUNY Plattsburgh, a Master’s degree in Higher Education & Student Personnel Administration from New York University, and a Master of Philosophy in Urban Education from the CUNY Graduate Center. Harmony spent time in Brazil, where she conducted research on interculturalism and multilingual and traveled to the Dominican Republic where she researched global perspectives and affirmative action. She is currently a PhD Candidate conducting research on foster youth resilience and educational outcomes, while also pursuing a certificate in Africana Studies. Harmony has participated in ongoing child welfare and educational advocacy efforts and has served as a peer reviewer for foster care publications. 

M.Phil, Urban Education, CUNY Graduate Center

M.A., Higher Education and Student Personnel Administration, New York University 

B.S., Human Development and Family Relations, SUNY Plattsburgh

Osei, H.D. (2026). Foreword. In Passport to Possibilities: Black Experiences in Global Engagement. Star Scholars Press. https://doi.org/10.32674/ar2q2c51

Osei, H. D. (2025). Black students in higher education. In The sage encyclopedia of education and gender (Vol. 2, pp. 64-68). SAGE Publications, Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071926697.n27

Makak, E., Medina, D. A., Osei, H. D. (2023). Exploring the Relationship between Mindset, Mental Health, and Academic Performance Among College Students. In Advising for Today's Honors Students, pgs. 173-203. National Collegiate Honors Council.  https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nchcmonochap/113/