Biography
Harriett Gaston is employed at Penn State Altoona as a Division of Undergraduate Studies Adviser. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College, Davidson, NC, and a master's degree in Student Services Personnel from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Harriett is involved in the campus’ annual African American Read-In, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, Penn State’s Campus Coalition for Student Success, and is involved in the Blair County community through programs such as Leadership Blair County, ArtsAltoona, the African American Heritage Festival of Blair County, Hollidaysburg Heritage Group Tour committee, the Blair County branch of the NAACP, and chair of the African American Heritage Project of Blair County since 1997. The Project was created to research and document Blair County's Black history.
Harriett's hometown is Charlotte, NC, and she has lived in Altoona since 1990. Her family consists of a son, Varick, and three cats.
Research Interests
Harriett's research focuses on local African American history. This research is built upon the gathering of stories, photos, newspaper articles, and books shared with her by the members of the Project, the local African American community and their extended families, the Blair County Genealogical Society, the Blair County Historical Society, and other community residents. Harriett has documented some of her research on her blog.