190 Chandler on Campus Jane Chandler steps into her role after a year-long transition, implementing her vision for inclusivity and connection. Jane Chandler became the new director of social clubs in fall 2024. The transition of responsibility spanned a year as Chandler collaborated with Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Chapel Programs Logan Light to ensure a smooth changeover. She shadowed Light throughout the 2023–24 school year as part of the transition. “I feel like a lot of times in life . . . there’s not a lot of transition, so it was really nice to be able to just truly observe what this [job] was going to be like,” Chandler said. Chandler, a Harding alumna, was part of women’s social club Ju Go Ju during her undergraduate studies and served as a sponsor for the club until the start of the 2024–25 school year. She expressed that gradually shifting her role allowed her to “have a foot in both camps” and better understand the needs of students. Following the transference of management, Chandler oversaw social clubs with assistance as necessary from Light. “It has been so important to me that Jane receives all of the support possible as she steps into this role,” Light said. “My aim has been to fill in as an active support for Jane.” Associate Dean of Student Life Kara Abston weighed in about her experience as director of social clubs from 2011–21 and how the values she focused on during her period of leadership remained similar as Harding grew and evolved. “Clubs and club processes have not changed too much since 2021,” Abston said. She explained that clubs were created to “provide students with opportunities for spiritual, intellectual, social, physical and civic growth.” Moving forward, social clubs were designated as part of Campus Life. Chandler indicated her desire for social clubs to be a positive environment through an overall improvement in communication. “Campus Life should be an inclusive, welcoming space for all, and that goes for social clubs as well,” Chandler said. “I never want someone to . . . have a bad experience because we didn’t share enough information or they weren’t equipped with the knowledge.” She also shared the sentiments of both Light and Abston on the role of social clubs as vessels to create relationships with others. “Go to whatever people are inviting you to,” Chandler said. “You truly just meet so many people going through [the process] even if you had no intention of joining a club.” When asked about her vision for social clubs as she stepped into her new role, Chandler maintained the importance of viewing social clubs as a supplement to life on campus rather than the sole source of it. “[Social clubs] can define your experience at Harding, “ Chandler said. “They don’t define who you are. We can let clubs become our existence . . . but it’s so much more than that. I hope that by it being part of Campus Life and not its own entity, it’s seen as just a broader student experience.” Written by Jessica Leite Leadership
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