A Legacy of Encouragement

By Laura Miller, student writer

For 25 years, Amy Cox has helped shape Harding’s design programs, not only through curriculum, accreditation and leadership, but through the students and colleagues she has encouraged along the way.

As Cox transitions from academics into her new role as assistant vice president in the Office of University Advancement, her influence can be seen throughout campus, as she has built a lasting legacy of seeing potential in others and helping them move toward it. 

During her time as a faculty member, Cox served in leadership roles, including professor, director, department chair and associate dean. She also supported the development of the architectural studies program while leading the interior architecture and design program through its first accreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. 

For Sarah Wilhoit, Ph.D., director of interior architecture and design, the accreditation goes beyond a credential, acting as an important step in establishing the program’s professional identity and credibility. 

“Her legacy is not simply a list of accomplishments; it is the stronger program, the students who have been prepared for successful careers, the colleagues she has supported and the foundation she has helped establish for those who will continue the work after her,” Wilhoit said.

Cox’s influence also extended to the architecture program as she was chosen to be chair of the committee tasked with planning its establishment. Mike Steelman, professor and director of the program, said Cox helped develop the curriculum and demonstrate the program's potential. 

“The simple truth is, Harding wouldn’t have an architecture program if it weren’t for Amy,” Steelman said. 

As the program grew, Cox’s involvement shifted to encouraging the faculty and students by teaching a foundational course for first-year architectural studies students and serving as a mentor for her colleagues. 

Steelman said Cox’s influence also helped shape the program’s emphasis on human-centered design, service and collaboration, elements that will continue to influence the program as Cox moves into her new role. 

Her investment directly translates to the intentional relationships she has built with students, acting as a source of encouragement and mentorship.

Shannon McCurdy, M.Des., first knew Cox as her professor, but after returning to Harding as a member of the faculty, she knows her as a colleague and a continued mentor. 

“When I think back on Amy as a professor, what stands out most was how deeply present she was with us,” McCurdy said. “She wasn’t just in the classroom; she was a complete support system for me while I was in school.”

The same encouragement continues to be felt by current students. Senior interior architecture and design Lily Hearyman and Pasha Eoff experienced Cox as an introductory course and studio professor. In studio courses, she worked individually with students to provide resources and guide them through the design process. 

Cox is described as a professor whose door was always open, remaining present and invested with students who needed help with academics or something personal. 

“She is just very encouraging,” Eoff said. 

That same encouragement was often shown through Cox’s ability to recognize what her students were capable of and encourage them to see it for themselves. 

“She wanted each student to succeed,” Hearyman said. “There was a belief in her students beyond maybe even what they can see in themselves.”

Stacy Gibson, chair and professor of the department of art, architecture and design, illustrates that Cox’s ability to invest in both people and programs, along with her natural ability to bring people together around a common purpose,  has defined her leadership. 

“We often hear the phrase ‘leave it better than you found it’ applied to the outdoors, but it perfectly captures Amy’s leadership,” Gibson said. “Across every role — as professor, director, chair, associate dean and now assistant vice president — she has brought careful stewardship and genuine care to everything entrusted to her.”

After 25 years in the classroom, Cox’s role at Harding is changing, but her encouragement remains in the programs she strengthened, the colleagues she supported, and the students she encouraged to recognize their potential. As she begins a new chapter, her influence will continue through the people and programs she helped to shape.