Harding alumna Liz Howell works with some of the thousands of Harding alumni on a daily basis, answering their questions, organizing events and so much more.
But the Alumni Relations Director also has her own story to tell.
“I started in ’74 as a freshman but then got married the summer after my freshman year and took 15 years off before I graduated in ’91,” Howell said. “I just call it the accelerated dating plan — we spent so much time together, more than a normal couple, and it was just a different world back then.”
Howell has been married for nearly 37 years and has two children who both graduated from Harding.She began her career as the Alumni Relations Director 13 years ago after transitioning from a very different job at a medical center.
“I have a background in health care administration and I was the vice president at White County [Medical Center],” Howell said. “I was approached by Harding to see if I wanted the job and I took it.”
Since beginning her work at Harding, Howell said that her Harding experience has influenced how she does her job and helps her communicate.
“I’m energized when I meet future students, alumni and parents because I know how great Harding is and what’s to come for the future students,” Howell said.
As she works with these people Howell said that her favorite part of the job is forming relationships. Alumni will often thank her for the work she does and Howell has the opportunity to keep in contact with many of the people she works with.
She said she also has the opportunity to see God at work.
“I’ve met people that the reasons they are [at Harding] is because of God and how he worked in their lives, and it changes the course of their lives,” Howell said.
Looking back at the history of Harding, Howell said it was truly a different world than what the university is like today.
“Harding [in the beginning] was just a dream for ordinary men and women and the Harding of 2011 is more than the founders could have ever dreamed,” Howell said. “Teachers would wear raincoats and students had umbrellas in class in the late 1920s when Harding first started because the roofs leaked.”
Being able to look back on this history of Harding and watching students grow is part of what Howell said she loves about her job.
“Harding has always had a history of student serving and current students keep that torch burning,” Howell said.
Harding’s total alumni count (both students who left without degrees and graduates) is 54,369.
Howell said she will never be able to know each one of those alumni’s stories or anywhere close. However, the impact she can have on however many or few of those people and the way she sees God at work at what make her love her job.
