Harkavy’s seminars and research projects on university-assisted community schools led to the West Philadelphia Improvement Corps, a 13-year partnership between the University of Pennsylvania and the West Philadelphia community. As director of the Center for Community Partnerships, Harkavy has helped develop service-learning and academically based community-service courses involving faculty and students.

Harkavy, executive editor of the journal Universities and Community Schools, served as consultant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its Office of University Partnerships. He received bachelor and doctoral degrees in history from the University of Pennsylvania and teaches in the university’s departments of history, urban studies and city planning.