Dana Steil is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of the Honors College, and an Associate Professor of Computer Science. Since 2000 he’s served Harding students and faculty, either as an administrator, data analyst, or in his favorite role: a classroom professor. Whether teaching, mentoring students, leading research grants, or administrating, he’s motivated by his love for the community and his confidence in their positive impact on society and the Lord’s kingdom. As Dean, Dana aims to support the college’s faculty, champion the academic programs, advocate for the liberal arts, teach at least one course per semester, and serve wherever else needed. Dr. Steil has won the University’s Teacher Achievement Award twice.
Away from work, Dana values time with his wife (Mandy) and four children (Emma, Eli, Eden, and Ezra) and enjoys woodworking, hiking, running, and other outdoor activities. The family’s experiences as foster parents and hosting their church small group continue to shape them in immeasurable ways.
Dr. James Miller earned a Ph.D. in communication in 2008 from the University of Tennessee, where he was named the Dr. Herbert H. Howard Fellow and taught in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media. He has published and presented research at dozens of conferences across the country and received multiple awards for his scholarly work in media effects and communication law and ethics. He was a keynote speaker on crisis communication at Harvard in 2016.
Dr. Miller served as chair of the Department of Communication at Harding from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure as chair, the department successfully completed a $100,000 fundraising campaign, grew in enrollment by 35 percent, and developed two new interdisciplinary majors. Dr. Miller received the university’s Distinguished Service Award in 2000 and the Teacher Achievement Award in 2012.
He is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, the national honors society for recognition of scholarship in mass communication. He has worked as a writer and reporter for multiple news media outlets, including the Knoxville News Sentinel. Dr. Miller's role as a faculty fellow in the Honors College includes curriculum design, advising the Honors Student Council and Trustee Scholars, alumni relations, recruiting, and related assessment. Dr. Miller and his wife, Sara, have two children.
Dr. Keck is an Associate Professor of English and an Honors College Faculty Fellow, specializing in the literatures and cultures of the early modern world (c. 1400-1800). His scholarly interests center on the English Renaissance, Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama, Arthurian Literature, the Golden Age of Piracy, and the History of the Book. He regularly teaches first and second-year composition along with a wide array of literature courses, including World Literature, British Literature, Early Modern Literature, and Shakespeare. He also teaches two courses with an industry focus: Introduction to Publishing and Writing Game Narrative. Since 2018, he has directed the internship for Shapes and Names, Harding's annual literary journal. For the Honors College, Dr. Keck teaches Honors 2010: Communication and Critical Thinking, chairs the Harding Undergraduate Research Conference Committee, and serves as the National and International Fellowships Advisor.
Dr. Murphy has a diverse background in education, industry, and service. After completing her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of South Carolina – Aiken, Dr. Murphy worked as a process control scientist at the Savannah River Site in the Aiken, South Carolina area.
Dr. Murphy’s education career began during her family’s time in American Samoa. She taught high school science and math at Pacific Horizons School in Tafuna, AS. When her family returned stateside, she continued her teaching career in Greenville, SC. She completed her Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry in 2018 from Clemson University. Dr. Murphy has been at Harding University since then, teaching a wide range of classes including Inorganic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, College Chemistry, and HNRS The Physical World.
Dr. Murphy’s research has focused on the synthesis and characterization of inorganic metal complexes with biological implications. She has recently begun a collaborative water quality project, analyzing local water systems for water contaminants including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and PFAS. She has worked with Honors students on Honors Thesis projects related to her research and is now serving as an Honors Faculty Fellow.
Kristina has been a member of the Honors College staff since 2018 and serves as the Honors College Program Coodinator. She manages the day-to-day functioning of the Honors College as well as the Honors Symposium enrollment process and facilitation of Honors College student activities.
Mrs. Chance has a degree in Oral Communication Theory and is currently pursuing a M.A in Education with licensure. Married to Jared, they have two school-age children, and are active members of Westside Church of Christ.
