Harding honors outstanding faculty and staff

April 24, 2017 |Faculty & Staff |

Eight Harding University faculty members received Teacher Achievement Awards and six staff members received Distinguished Services Awards at the annual faculty and staff dinner on campus Friday, April 21. These annual awards are presented to faculty members demonstrating excellence in teaching and staff members showcasing great ability, dedicated service and tremendous contribution to the work and purpose of the University.

Faculty members David Allen, Dave L. Bland, Anita Killins, Dennis Matlock, Todd Patten, Amy Qualls, Jack Shock and Dana Steil are the 2016-17 Teacher Achievement Award recipients. Staff members Barbara Barnes, Amie Carter, Gary Hogue, Tim Kirby, Evelyn Meredith and Jay Simpson are the 2016-17 Distinguished Service Award recipients.

Marcus Bennett, facility services supervisor, was awarded the above and beyond award.

Allen is associate professor of business administration in the Paul R. Carter College of Business Administration. He has been a faculty member since 1987. He received his B.A. from Harding in 1973 and his MBA from University of Central Arkansas in 1981. This is his second teacher achievement award.

Barnes has been a member of the Harding staff since 1999. She is a first grade teacher at Harding Academy.

Bland is professor of homiletics and director of the Doctor of Ministry program for Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been teaching at the University since 1993. He received his B.A. from Harding in 1976, a Master of Divinity from Abilene Christian University in 1980, a Doctorate of Ministry from Western Baptist Seminary in 1985, and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1994.

Carter is assistant director for human resources. She has worked at Harding for 10 years.

Hogue joined the University staff in 2003. He is a patrolman for Harding’s public safety department.

Killins has been a faculty member since 2011 and is an assistant professor of physical therapy in the College of Allied Health. She received a bachelor’s degree from Harding in 1995, a clinical doctorate in physical therapy from Creighton University in 1999, and a Ph.D. in physical therapy from University of Central Arkansas in 2015.

Kirby is the women’s basketball coach and an assistant professor of kinesiology. He has worked at the University since 1993.

Matlock has been with the University since 2000 and is professor and chair of the department of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Sciences. He received his bachelor’s degree from Harding in 1996 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Saint Louis University in 2000. Additionally, he earned an MBA in management and business ethics from Harding in 2007 and a master’s in bioethics from Trinity International University in 2016. This is his second teacher achievement award.

Meredith has been working at Harding for 38 years. She is a library assistant at the Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee.

Patten is an associate professor of education and director of clinical mental health counseling program in the Cannon-Clary College of Education. He joined the faculty in 2004. He received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Harding in 1995, a master’s in clinical psychology from Abilene Christian University in 1999, and a counseling doctorate from the University of Memphis in 2009.

Qualls is an assistant professor of English in the College of Arts and Humanities. She has taught at the University since 2011. She received a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 2001 and a master’s and doctorate in English from Auburn University in 2003 and 2009.

Shock has been with the University since 1985 as a professor of communication in the College of Arts and Humanities. He received his bachelor’s degree from Harding in 1980 and a master’s of arts and doctorate of education from the University of Arkansas in 1985 and 1993. Because this is his third teacher achievement award, Shock is now recognized as a distinguished professor.

Simpson is senior associate director of financial aid services. He joined the Harding staff in 1997.

Steil joined the Harding faculty in 2000 and is an associate professor of computer science in the College of Sciences. He received a bachelor’s degree in 1997 and M.S.E. in 2004 from Harding and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in 2008 and 2010. This is his second teacher achievement award.

Each honoree was presented with a check and a framed certificate commemorating the award.