Provost Office

Marty Spears, Ph.D. (Rice University)

Provost and Chief Academic Officer

As Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Dr Spears reports directly to the President and provides leadership and oversight for the University’s academic mission, including its colleges and schools, faculty, academic programs, curriculum and academic policies. His responsibilities also include faculty development and evaluation, academic planning and quality, institutional and specialized accreditation and collaboration with University leadership to advance Harding’s mission and strategic priorities. 

Michael McGalliard, Sc.D., PT, COMT (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center)

Associate Provost of Health Sciences

Dr. McGalliard also serves as Dean of the College of Allied Health. As Associate Provost, he provides leadership and coordination for the University’s health sciences programs, fostering collaboration among programs and colleges and supporting strategic initiatives, academic quality, accreditation, and growth in the health sciences. As Dean, he provides academic and administrative leadership for the College of Allied Health, including its faculty, programs, resources and continued development. 

Andrea Morris, Ph.D. (George Mason University)

Assistant Provost for Curricular and Community Engagement

Dr. Morris serves as Assistant Provost for Curricular and Community Engagement and provides leadership for initiatives that support the flourishing and success of faculty and students. Her responsibilities include the First-Year Experience for students; faculty orientation, onboarding and ongoing development; and programs that strengthen teaching, learning and faculty engagement, including oversight of the Center for Teaching and Learning. She works across the University to identify emerging needs and develop programs that foster a strong, supportive academic community.  

Jake Brownfield, Ed.D. (Harding University)

Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs

Dr. Brownfield serves as Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs, with a particular focus on student success and the effective administration of academic policies and processes. He works closely with students, faculty and academic leaders to address academic concerns, exceptions and appeals and to identify ways to support student persistence and success. His responsibilities also include supporting faculty and academic leadership in policy interpretation and implementation and overseeing key academic functions within the Provost’s Office.

Kimberly Laing, Ph.D. (Faulkner University)

Director of Institutional Assessment and Academic Quality

Dr. Laing serves as Director of Institutional Assessment and Academic Quality and provides leadership for University-wide efforts to strengthen student learning and academic effectiveness. She coordinates institutional assessment processes, supports academic programs in developing and evaluating student learning outcomes and helps ensure that assessment results lead to meaningful improvement. Her responsibilities also include supporting accreditation and institutional effectiveness efforts and working with faculty and academic leaders to promote a culture of continuous improvement and academic quality.

Andrea Stark Bishop, Ph.D. (University of Memphis)

Executive Director of Online Learning

Dr. Bishop serves as Executive Director of Online Learning and provides university-wide leadership for the quality, planning, and continuous improvement of online education at Harding. This includes leading the development and implementation of a strategic plan for online education, helping shape a long-term vision for online learning at Harding, coordinating institutional efforts related to accreditation and regulatory expectations for distance education, and collaborating with academic and administrative leaders to promote best practices in online teaching and learning across the university.

Wil Perkins, Ed.D. (Harding University)

Director of Grants and Director of Graduate Academic Operations

Dr. Perkins serves as Director of Grants and Graduate Academic Operations, providing leadership and support for both external funding initiatives and the University’s graduate and professional programs. He assists faculty and academic leaders in identifying, developing and administering grant opportunities and coordinates key academic processes that support graduate and professional education. He works across colleges and programs to strengthen operations, ensure consistency in policies and practices and support the continued development and success of graduate education.

Melanie Blake, B.A. (Baldwin-Wallace College)

Academic Administrative Coordinator

Melanie Blake serves as Administrative Coordinator for the Provost’s Office, providing administrative and operational support for the Provost and the broader academic enterprise. She works closely with deans’ assistants and academic programs to coordinate processes, communications and administrative matters that flow through the Provost’s Office, helping ensure consistent and efficient academic operations.

Amber White, MBA (Harding University)

Academic Tech Specialist

Amber White serves as Academic Technology Specialist, providing support for academic processes and operations within the Provost’s Office. She coordinates the annual maintenance and publication of the University catalog and, as part of the catalog team, assists deans, chairs and faculty in shepherding curriculum and program changes through the academic approval process and into the catalog. She also provides technology and administrative support for a variety of Provost’s Office initiatives and academic functions.

Debbie Baird, B.A. (Harding University)

Assistant to the Provost

Debbie Baird serves as Assistant to the Provost, providing support for key projects, initiatives, and priorities of the Provost’s Office. She coordinates important administrative processes, including support for academic budgets and finances, faculty educational and professional development assistance and other academic initiatives. Her extensive knowledge of Harding’s people, policies and operations provides valuable experience and continuity for the Provost’s Office and the broader academic enterprise.