Programs & Training

The ASI Leadership Program conducts conferences, seminars, and training on campus in our full range conference center. Large meeting rooms, small meeting rooms, auditoriums, 50 hotel rooms, state of the art AV technology, and catering options are available to our campus and community.  We offer various services to help plan the events, from advisory roles to full-service planning and execution.

2020-2021 ASI Officer Council
From left to right: Mackenzie Cobb (Senior Nursing from Fort Smith, AR), Holden Montgomery (Senior Communication Studies from Nashville, TN), Martha Pike Weaver (Senior Medical Humanities from Memphis, TN) Noah Hernbeck (Senior Accounting from Nashville, TN), Mary-Grace Golden (Junior Public Administration from Franklin, TN), John Rowe (Senior Accounting from Little Rock, AR), Carson Swede (Junior Accounting from Little Rock, AR), Konrad Heyen (Junior Computer Science and Math from Houston, TX), Everett Belle Kirkman (Junior Public Relations from Searcy, AR), Seth Sims (Junior Biochemistry and Premed from Woodward, OK), Emily Nixon (Junior Accounting from Nashville, TN), Eric Johnson (Junior American Studies from Columbus, OH), and Ella Horton (Sophomore Nursing from Little Rock, AR). Not pictured: Emily Whitehorn (Junior Mid Level Education from Brentwood TN), and Grant Countess (Junior Accounting and Information Systems from Shelbyville, TN).

Harding University students of all majors are eligible to apply to the American Studies Institute Distinguished Scholars program. The prerequisites for automatic invitation include a 3.8-grade point average or above and standing as a junior, senior, or freshman member of Harding University's Honors Scholar Program. Each fall there is an open application process for those with an automatic invitation and those who have a 3.6-grade point average available through Pipeline.

The value of membership greatly outweighs the small, one-time membership fee.  The generous sponsors to our program make these membership benefits available for ASI Distinguished Scholars: 

• Be a guest to dinners before  Distinguished Lecturers where members meet and dine with the campus, community, and state leaders.
• Attend Harding Leadership Forum with other leaders from across campus.  This annual event is held in the spring and has been held at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion since 2016.
• Receive an ASI T-shirt and an ASI cord to wear as part of the graduation regalia.
• Service opportunities include setting up the 911 Memorial on campus, serve at the annual Veterans Day breakfast, and participate in monthly meetings.
• Serve on the Officer Council to plan and implement all of the events and activities with the American Studies Institute.

ASI Officer Council

Each year the ASI Officer Council is a group of top ASI Scholars. The ASI Officer Council assists the executive director in Distinguished Lecture events, serves as hosts at ASI dinner events,  works with ASI sponsors, leads ASI scholar meetings and induction, and plans student leadership events.

This opportunity provides training and equips ASI Officer Council to effectively explore and use their talents, gifts, and abilities to serve in the Kingdom of God. Coordinate various events that emphasize whole-person education, Christ-centered leadership, and expansion of a student’s global perspective to develop and flourish as servant leaders.

Educational tours of various cities and major metropolitan areas throughout the United States are conducted for Harding's American Studies Scholars, allowing them to meet business leaders, government officials and educators each year. 

As soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, ASI will resume these trips.

Each year the American Studies Institute hosts a National Leadership Forum on the Harding campus. Co-sponsored with regional civic clubs, the seminar promotes leadership education for high school students from a multi-state region.