Christian Scholars Conference Lunch Honoring Dr. Larry Long
Thursday, June 5, 2025, 12 p.m.
Hunter Welcome Center, Abilene Christian University
This year's Christian Scholars Conference Honorary Lunch will celebrate Dr. Larry Long, Provost Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at Harding University. Long served as a cornerstone of academic leadership at Harding University for four decades, leaving an enduring legacy as Provost Emeritus and architect of transformative programs. Joining Harding's faculty in 1976 as an English professor, he earned distinction as a three-time recipient of Harding’s Distinguished Teaching Award and became renowned for integrating faith with rigorous scholarship.
As provost from 2004 to 2016, Long oversaw Harding’s academic vision, championing initiatives like the faculty orientation program “Embracing the Mission” to align teaching practices with the university’s Christian ethos. Colleagues praised his ability to balance institutional traditions with innovative growth, including expanding study abroad opportunities and strengthening graduate programs. During this time, he served as a board member for the Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars Conference.
Long’s most enduring contribution came to Harding in 1989 when he established the university's Honors Program with 19 students. Under his leadership as founding director and dean, the program grew to 500 students annually, achieved membership in the National Collegiate Honors Council, and evolved into a full college that emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and service. The program’s success stemmed from his belief that “scholarly students benefit from creative, complex academic approaches.”
After retiring in 2016, Long was named Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English and Provost Emeritus, reflecting his dual impact as both administrator and classroom mentor. His tenure saw Harding rise in national rankings, with graduates consistently attending top-tier graduate schools such as Harvard, Duke, the University of Chicago, and several Big Ten universities. Colleagues remember him as a decisive, caring leader who prioritized Harding’s mission while fostering faculty collaboration, once advising successors: “Your task is noble; pursue it with enthusiasm and joy.” Approximately one hundred current faculty members and administrators at colleges and universities associated with Churches of Christ were students in the Harding University Honors College when it was under his direction, and many of his former students participate in this conference each year.
A graduate of Abilene Christian University (BA) and The Ohio State University (MA, PhD), Long’s career epitomized a commitment to blending academic excellence with spiritual growth, leaving an indelible mark on thousands of students and the broader Christian higher education community. This year's conference theme of creating and curating community compels us to honor someone whose life and career have launched more current university faculty from Churches of Christ than perhaps anyone else, and we look forward to celebrating Larry Long's distinguished career in Abilene this June.
