188 Fall 2022 had many leadership changes, including the addition of assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives, Dr. Andrea Morris. Morris said she originally had no inclination to come to Harding University. “It was really a God thing,” Morris said. She previously worked as a professor at Virginia Tech University in the School of Public and International Affairs. “There was always something missing though,” Morris said. “I always introduce myself to my classes as a Christian, always. That’s who I am.” In 2020, COVID-19 and racial tension were topics of conversation that her students wished to discuss. She allowed a safe space to discuss those topics in the classroom. However, she said that she could not give them the best answer, which was Christ. She wanted to discuss Christianity, but at Virginia Tech University, she had to keep that out of the conversation. “I started praying, ‘Lord, I need to be at a Christian college or university,’” Morris said. “I said to God 20-something years ago, ‘here I am, God, send me.’” Fall 2022 was the first semester for Morris in her role as assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives. Taking Initiative Dr. Andrea Morris starts as the new assistant to the provost for strategic initiatives. COMMANDING THE ROOM Dr. Andrea Morris gives a lecture to raise awareness for food insecurity on campus. Morris was joined by Junior Tucker Lovell in her efforts. Photo courtesy of: Macy Cox Morris said that she would build and mend relationships with the community. “[Carrying out President Williams’] vision of Harding being an institution and a place that is deliberately reaching into and extending ourselves into the community deeper, longer, wider and higher … that’s my job,” Morris said. “We may have a gate or fence on Race Street, but that fence is not a statement of, ‘You don’t belong.’ It is a gateway in.” Assistant professor of history & political science Lori Klein met Morris in April 2022 when the American Studies Institute took a trip to Washington D.C. “She is [now] doing exactly what she wanted, which is getting out into the community and finding out who needs help and who can help us,” Klein said. Provost Marty Spears and Morris hoped to find a way to bring President Mike Williams’ goal of “running to broken humanity” into the classroom. “She’s going to be great about just finding connections in the community,” Spears said. Written By: Camille White
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