Certainty in changing times

By David B. Burks, president

I want to thank our board of trustees for extending to me the opportunity to work with Har-ding once again during this period of transition. I am grateful to our faculty, staff, students and alumni for the support shown to me during this extraordinary time of change for our beloved University.

COVID-19 has been our constant companion for the past two years and has influenced literally everything we do. We are grateful for the good health of our students and faculty and thankful for the fact that we have been able to be fully open this school year with normal activities for our students, including returning the annual new year’s trip to New York City God has been faithful.

During this time, we have emphasized our need to grow our enrollment so that more people can be transformed by the message of Christ. We also have initiated new programs to meet the needs of current and future students. New construction projects are underway which are needed for our changing programs.

The one constant in this time of unprecedented change is our commitment to our unchanging purpose. We believe in the integration of faith, learning and living, and we will always strive to honor God in everything we do.

Now we turn our attention to the coming of Dr. Mike Williams on June 1 as the sixth president of Harding . I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Williams in both recruitment and advancement during the 26 years I was president. He loves God, is a man of great faith, and loves Harding. I very much look forward to his leadership in the years to come. I know you join me in prayer for Dr. Williams as he assumes this important role at Harding.