Raised by a police officer and a federal agent, the importance of service was instilled in Kimberly from a young age. Before she even knew what social workers did, she knew that she wanted to dedicate her life to helping those who struggle. She volunteered at shelters and ran community service projects helping the homeless, with a particular focus on homeless children and families. She still runs regular food drives in addition to serving for two years as President of the Democratic Women of Cumberland County and then being elected Second Vice-Chair of the Democratic Women of North Carolina (on leave during the 2022 Democratic primary).
Dr. Hardy’s passion for helping others led her to obtain degrees in social work from Morgan State and the Ohio State University (where she pledged Sigma Gamma Rho). Most recently Dr. Hardy’s been giving back through Cumberland’s own Sweet Tea Shakespeare.
As a school social worker, she saw the difference that one person can make in the lives of children and their families. She also saw first-hand that everyone needs safe communities with opportunities to learn, build businesses, and thrive. To better advocate for families and neglected communities, she earned her PhD in Social Work from Morgan State. Dr. Hardy is a renowned expert on the role of religion and spirituality in social work and in creating stronger, healthier communities. She now teaches the next generation of social workers at Fayetteville State University.
