Her research focuses on strategies for strengthening the connection between workforce and economic development through entrepreneurship. Her latest studies on ‘mapping of the entrepreneurial ecosystems’ allow re-conceptualizing of regional entrepreneurship. The research provides comprehensive analysis of various entrepreneurial ecosystem components, with an understanding of how models vary across differing regional contexts. Her work on business incubation and entrepreneurship ecosystems has been published in book chapters, policy reports and major scholarly journals such as Economic Development Quarterly and the Journal of Planning Education and Research. Dr. Harper-Anderson teaches courses in economic development, economic geography, and urban development policy.