Written by John Mark Adkison
Next semester Harding University in Greece will have a new addition to aid the director and help the popular overseas program run more smoothly.Senior Steven Chandler was hired at the beginning of November as the new assistant to the director. He will begin this spring, joining HUG directors Mike and Beth James at the Artemis Hotel in Porto Rafti, Greece.”This is all just so surreal,” Chandler said. “This is the sort of job I have been dreaming about, and now it is going to be real. I am really, really excited.”Chandler is majoring in public relations and leadership and ministry. He is from Decatur, Ala., and is currently the student president of the American Studies Institute. Chandler said he plans on graduating this December and then arriving in Greece a week before the students arrive, which does not provide much time for training.”I am trying to memorize simple Greek terms while I am here,” Chandler said. “I am also trying to freshen up on my Greek mythology. I am currently reading the ‘Odyssey’ and I’ve read ‘Iliad.’ Ever since I was kid, I have had a love for Greek mythology. The myths are a huge interest to me. When I found out I got the job, I watched ‘Hercules,’ which is not exactly an accurate depiction, but it still got me excited.”Chandler himself was a student in the HUG program in the summer of 2009, and he said it was there that he discovered a passion for Greece and its history.”Being a communications major, I love the concept of stories,” Chandler said. “And so many stories have connections to Greek mythology and its history. Greece’s history has influenced nearly everything. And then when you travel to Israel and Egypt, with older histories, you finally see places that you have heard about your whole life. That is why I love the program, and that is where my passion stems from.”Chandler said he is also looking forward to working with Mike James, who was his professor when James was dean of the College of Communication.”I had Dr. James for two classes and attended his Bible study my freshman year before he became the director,” Chandler said. “Even before I heard about an opening in the assistant position, I was thrilled about Dr. James becoming the new director. He is always a fun guy and I will be working with him in just about everything.”James is currently in his first semester as director.”Dr. [Jeff]Hopper, Dr. James and myself are all impressed with Steven and his character,” said Janis Ragsdale, Harding’s international programs administrator; Ragsdale and Hopper, dean of International Programs, interviewed Chandler for the position.”We are confident that he will do an outstanding job as he works as Dr. James’ assistant in the daily operations of HUG,” Ragsdale said.Taking on this new role in a foreign country without knowing the language would likely seem daunting to most, but Chandler said he is not worried.”I am not really nervous,” Chandler said. “I was put in a lot leadership roles in high school and college, so I am really looking forward to mentoring and getting to know the students.”
