Dr. Harrelson has worked in education for thirty-nine years. She began her career as a middle school social studies teacher and then became a schoolwide Title I facilitator. For the last sixteen years, Dr. Harrelson has worked at the district level with federal programs and grants management. She works with Title I schoolwide sites assisting them with grant development, implementation, and documentation. She is currently the past president of the South Carolina Association of Title I Administrators (SCATA) organization after serving as secretary-treasurer, vice president, and president. She is also a member of the National Association of Federal Program Administration (NAFEPA) and serves as a board member.