140 leadership From delivering bread to working for a photography studio in high school, President Dr. David Burks was not aware of his full passion for creative and liberal arts until he was a student at Harding. While Burks filled the traditional administrative tasks as president, many people did not realize his creative side and the artistic influence he had on campus. “I love the arts, and I love going to drama productions and going to the musicals at Harding,” Burks said. “I also enjoy going to the rehearsals for them. I really do enjoy going to Spring Sing, the [Homecoming] musical and the dramatic arts, and I think it’s a marvelous part of the Harding environment.” When Burks started school at Harding in 1961, he was a personal photographer as well as a staff photographer for the Petit Jean. His passion for photography started before going to college. While in high school, he spent time developing his own film and processing it in his own dark room. “When I came to Harding as a student, [photography] was an easy way for me to make some money,” Burks said. “So I had a photography business on the side. I took club portraits, and then I took pictures for the Petit Jean through a scholarship to help me pay my college expenses.” Burks continued to develop his creative spirit well into his adult life. A recent ambition he had that many did not realize was the interest to play the piano. He began taking lessons under the direction of Donna Jo Miller two years ago and devoted two hours daily to practice. “I guess it was a desire to do something I’ve never been able to do before, so I bought a grand piano and try to practice for a couple hours a day,” Burks said. As if photography and piano were not enough to satisfy the right side of his brain, Burks also gained an interest in architecture. “I have a great love for architecture,” he said. “That’s always been a secret ambition of mine.” As president, he became more involved with the design and building aspect of the university than some would have expected. “Dr. Burks has a little draft table in his back room [of his office], and he will get the plans and sketch around on them,” Assistant to the President Nathan Copeland said. “He is into it. He has got this architect stuff figured out.” Burks said he worked with the Harding University architect, Mike Steelman, who had done most of the work on Harding’s campus since Burks had been president. Burks spent a lot of time with Steelman to ensure that he had an input in terms of what they attempted to do with new building projects and renovations. “It has been a favorite part of my job,” Burks said. “It’s great fun, and I thoroughly enjoy planning and working with committees on campus to plan buildings.” Copeland said that it seemed like Burks had done several different construction projects on campus, and as more buildings went up, he got more and more involved in the process and learned quite a bit about architecture. Steelman told Copeland that once Burks retired, he could just go into architecture. “He knows a lot about it now and has a great vision for things, and that’s what he has done with all the new construction and remodeling,” Copeland said. “He has this vision in his head of how things should be, and that’s kind of how it plays out. We’ve seen that so far, and I think he has got a few more in the future.” Allison Weaver Creativity \ president finds outlet in the arts\
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