Since Dr. Mike and Lisa Williams stepped into their roles as President and First Lady at Harding University, they have been making changes to provide a welcoming environment, both on campus and within their house. Lisa has been revamping the home to utilize space for the Harding community. She feels that it is important to have a beautiful home so when people visit, they see a positive representation of Harding.
“The house belongs to the university, it is contractual to live here and the board sees value in having people in the home for the university,” Lisa Williams said. “Some people call it entertainment, we do not like to use that word, we are not trying to impress anyone, we are trying to represent the university well.”
Many people admire the work that Lisa has done on the home. While Lisa has done much of the redesigning herself, Toria Welkener, a former student and interior design major, has also been a huge help during the process.
“I assisted her in finish and lighting selection and produced the construction documents for the renovations,” Welkener said.
Welkener said it has been amazing to see the house transform as different presidential couples have resided in it. She appreciates the new flow and openness of the living spaces, which allows for larger groups of people to gather. The finishes they selected elevate the interiors, but not much to diminish the welcoming aesthetic.
Senior Magdalene Pruitt also supports Lisa’s work. She has visited the William’s new house twice since Dr. Williams became president. She loves Lisa and Mike for their hospitality, and willingness to welcome students into their home. The home features a kitchen with two dining tables and has plenty of natural lighting, which makes it a great place for students to congregate.
“They can fit more people in the house and Lisa told me that she is interested in having women’s studies and a bunch of student meetings since she loves having people over,” Pruitt said.
