Her list of awards and special recognitions include Faulkner Universitys Outstanding Educator of 2009, the 2010 Presidents Volunteer Service Award presented by the Corporation for National and Community Service and a special 2014 proclamation from the Faulkner University Board of Trustees recognizing her service in successfully implementing its eCampus program. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We will work diligently to get us through this transition.. In this place, we have students from 36 different states, from 35 different countries. And were all here together with an opportunity for us all to be ministering to them. While teaching, Henry maintained his law practice and has been a practicing attorney for 29 years. A special session of the Board of Trustees will convene Oct. 28 to create a search committee. "This decision has essentially ripped Lisa and me apart emotionally,"Williams letter of resignation read in part. All rights reserved. Williams said he does not view the church as an organization but as a people. 2022 www.montgomeryadvertiser.com. Thats what we did. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Faulkner University named Dennis Mitchell Henry as its new president on Wednesday after narrowing down a list of 26 candidates. He and his family were in attendance at a special chapel service and a luncheon. He also served as director of admissions and assistant vice president of enrollment services in previous years. So I aspire to be an architect a passionate architect of a contemporary expression of our historical mission.. In the face of what he described as young people leaving religion as a whole at a rapid rate, Williams said he thinks it is time to have a refresh. Henry currently serves as an associate professor, teaching law to undergraduate and graduate students, according to the university. He brings vision, strategic thinking and the business acumen of an experienced university president. The board has confidence in the strength of the administration and faculty at Faulkner, a representative said in a statement on behalf of Faulkner board of trustees chairman Dale Kirkland. We know this school is in strong hands.

Williams was Faulkner's eighth president in the university's 79-year history.

Williams said the faculty, staff, alumni and students of Harding must collaborate. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. But, the board of trustees did not appoint me to be a curator of Hardings past they asked me to champion her future. Williams said he looks forward to rekindling relationships that he had with colleagues at Harding when he was here before. We know God has blessed her heritage and He will shepherd her future.. The vision needs to be this tapestry of everybody contributing to what the full potential and bandwidth of Harding University can be.. Williams notified Faulkner's board of his decision to resign Wednesday. During his time at the helm of Faulkner, the university added the new College of Health Sciences "which acts as the foundation for Williams' vision to create an autism center on campus," according to the news release. View our privacy policy.

We need to run towards broken humanity with the intensity of the holy one. Copyright 2022 WSFA 12 News. Williams took over as president at Faulkner in 2015, after spending 28 years at Harding where he served as the director of admissions, assistant vice president of enrollment services and as the vice president of advancement. Dr. Johns also served Faulkner as a professor and the director of its American Bar Association-approved Legal Studies program. That afternoon, with many former Eagle players in attendance, he threw out t he first pitch at a Faulkner game. Montgomery police chief Darryl Albert announces restructure of department, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. They provide vital information for troubleshooting problems and improving the visitor experience. Analytics cookies do not personally identify you and cannot be turned off. We are going to stay in our lane. After meeting in person in Searcy during the week of Homecoming, Walker said the Harding board reconvened in a meeting on Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Weve all got diverse opinions and thats how God made us, Williams said. Dr. Robert C. Walker, president of the board of trustees, made the announcement on behalf of the board at a press conference in Cone Chapel. Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Kirsten Fiscus at 334-318-1798 or KFiscus@gannett.com. Before that, he received both his bachelor's and a master's of business administration from the university before attending the University of Pennsylvania to earn a doctorate in education. He has also taught dispute resolution as an adjunct law professor at Faulkners Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. At least in my opinion and I think the board is absolutely with me on this we are going to let the church be the church, Williams said. Williams said Hardings vision cannot be crafted by him alone. He also pursued partnerships with Davis Elementary School and HEAL Alabama, an organization aimed at helping the children of the state be healthier. He received a doctorate of higher education from the University of Pennsylvania. He aligns with our mission and understands our culture. Dr. Johns, who also serves as a member of the universitys organizational leadership/criminal justice part-time faculty, came to Samford from Faulkner University, where she served as vice president for academic affairs. Williams will assume the Harding presidency on June 1, 2022. He said without compromising theological convictions, the University must adapt, excel and courageously move forward. Follow her on Twitter @KDFiscus. We love the vision we have cast for the future. Faulkner University's President Mike Williams is stepping down to accept the same position at his alma mater Harding University, a private liberal arts university in Arkansas. We can dream all day long about what we think it ought to be, but really if the world thinks its irrelevant, it doesnt really matter, Williams said. We need to restore first century love, Williams said. Lamar Harrison, known as the "Father of Faulkner Baseball", is a long-time university benefactor and has served on the Board of Trustees since 1976.

Finding relevance in our mission and how that really makes a difference in the world is absolutely critical..

Until then, Burks will continue to serve as interim president. Faulkner is also associated with the churches of Christ. He said after living here for over 28 years, he considers Searcy home. AcceptPreferences, Senior Associate Provost, SACSCOC Liaison. He is a mature, spiritually sound and Christ-centered man. We need to come together. A legacy that needs to be remembered and honored. At the press conference, Williams said he admired the hard work and dedication of the heroic men and women who paved the way in 1924 for what Harding is today. His message of unity and mending past relationships was powerful, Brazell said. Thats what were called to do, Henry said. Walker said Williams perfectly fits the boards profile established for the Universitys next president. Im looking forward to interacting with him more in the future as we work together to make this school an even better place.. I think this is a special place and Dr. Williams is the perfect fit to lead this university. Harding University is not the church. His practice has specialized in insurance defense, business litigation, estate planning and agriculture law. Dr. David Burks has now served as interim president for nearly a year. in Public Administration (non-profit emphasis) and a B.A. The baseball facility that bears his name is considered one of the top facilities in the southeast and has been the "foundational home" of many championships between the lines and many changed lives off of it. So we have to come together to craft a bold, ambitious vision for the future of Harding University.. Student Association president Ethan Brazell was present at the press conference, and said he was reassured to hear Williams optimistic perspective of Harding moving forward as an institution. Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre presents The Musical Come, Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre kicks off 39th season with, ASU-Beebe Announces Plans for 2022 Vanguard Discovery C. He said he believes it is time for a new restoration. from the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University, a M.A. The board announced in October 2020 that Dr. Bruce McLarty would retire as president, citing an extremely challenging business environment, as leading the change. She has served as a peer reviewer for the American Association for Paralegal Educations national journal as well as publishing and/or presenting numerous works with a higher education focus. Williams has served as president of Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama, since 2015. Hes also previously worked closely with Faulkner Universitys legal counsel. Dr. Johns enjoys theatre, running and travel. They have one child, Ella Grace, who attends the Alabama School of Fine Arts. Dr. Johns holds a J.D. We need to restore first century compassion, first century mercy. Faulkners Board of Trustees Chair Dale Kirkland and Chancellor Billy Hilyer introduced Henry, an attorney, after he was unanimously approved as president-elect a day earlier. All rights reserved. Her lengthy list of professional specializations includes experience working with regulatory and accrediting agencies, serving as a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges reviewer, leading successful education technology initiatives and developing, implementing and assessing campus-wide strategic plans. She has developed and taught hybrid and fully-online courses in the subjects of leadership, administration and law. (Source: WSFA 12 News), 2nd theft in 2 days at Destin store leads to 2 Alabama arrests, Juvenile injured in Montgomery shooting Wednesday, ADPH: 4 cases of monkeypox in Alabama; 2 are probable, Auburn players defend Harsin at SEC Media Days, Bryce Young wins ESPY for best college male athlete. He is a founding member of Webster, Henry, Bradwell, Cohan, Speagle, and DeShazo, P.C. He gave us diverse perspectives, and it would be ludicrous for me to think I have some kind of unique vision about the future that nobody else has. Before transitioning to leadership in higher education, Dr. Johns worked as an attorney with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and in private practice, focusing predominantly on the fields of regulatory law (Medicaid), probate, estate planning and domestic relations. His resignation will become effective near the end of the spring semester and he'll take over as Harding's sixth president at the beginning of June, according to a news release from Faulkner. The Faulkner board of trustees congratulated Williams at a simultaneous press conference on Faulkners campus. Prior to assuming leadership roles in that office, Dr. Johns served as the director of Faulkners institutional review board and faculty college. We are going to do what we do best. in history, both from Auburn University Montgomery. She and her husband, Bo, live in Hoover. "We dearly love the people here at Faulkner. Dr. Johns has shared her legal, educational and administrative expertise in more than a dozen volunteer roles, from university task forces and academic committees to the Alabama State Bar. Current president Mike Williams will step down on May 6, at which time Henry will take over as the universitys ninth president. Dr. Johns has led the mission and day-to-day operations of Samfords Professional Studies program since October, 2015. This announcement concluded a nine-month, nationwide search for a president. Moving forward, he said he aims to highlight what makes a Harding education relevant today. We need to give this generation a reason to stay.. Because I believe what binds us together what binds this family together is so much stronger and so much bigger than what pulls us apart. I intend to reach out to our passionate alumni to listen, to engage and to mend relationships that need to be mended, Williams said. I am pleased today that we have found the right person, Walker said at the press conference. At Harding University, we have a remarkable, and a rich heritage, Williams said. We are going to let the church be the church, and we can still be a powerful influence in the kingdom of God while staying in our lane.. Cookie Preferences | Privacy Policy | Software Plugins, We use cookies to improve our site, personalize content and serve more relevant advertising on other platforms.

Faulkner will immediately begin their search for a new president, according to the release. Use your browser's incognito or private browsing mode to avoid participating. On Wednesday, Oct. 27, Dr. Michael D. Williams was announced as Harding Universitys sixth president. We love her mission. Henry also serves as professor of practice in Auburn Universitys College of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Economics and Rural Sociology, teaching agriculture law. Williams said it did not quite feel real until he drove into Searcy. Prior to his presidency at Faulkner, Williams spent 28 years at Harding, most recently as vice president of advancement. Williams earned both his bachelors and masters of business administration from Harding. Williams notified the Faulkner board of trustees of his decision to resign on the morning of Oct. 27. BREAKING: Prattville shooting victim dies after weeks on life support, Faulkner University introduces new president, Dennis Mitchell Henry was introduced as Faulkner's next president on Wednesday. This family needs to come together. And thats what were doing. He was honored in the spring of 2016 on "LamarHarrison Day" on campus, when he was presented with a 2013 NAIA national championship ring and a framed jersey. He received overwhelming support from the board of trustees.. Williams said he officially accepted the presidency at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. Williams said despite a challenging landscape, he believes the University has a greater capacity than its current position.