Former longtime president David Burks will return to that role as a search process is launched.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
Amid declining enrollment and budgetary concerns that prompted recent cutbacks, Harding University in Searcy, Ark., is replacing Bruce McLarty as its president, effective Nov. 30.
As McLarty retires, David Burks, Harding’s chancellor and former longtime president, will return to the president’s role Dec. 1.
A search committee will be appointed to seek a long-term successor.
“I accepted the opportunity to become president of Harding during this interim period out of respect for our board of trustees and my extreme love for our work at Harding University,” Burks, 77, said in a written statement to The Christian Chronicle.
“I simply could not say no when asked to assume this role while the board searches for the next president,” he added. “Clearly, my appointment is temporary and will not last one day longer than needed.”
Trustees of the 4,500-student university, which is associated with Churches of Christ, announced the 63-year-old McLarty’s exit this afternoon, saying the decision came “after careful and prayerful consideration.”
This story appears in the December edition of The Christian Chronicle.
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