ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

PRESIDENT, THE HARBINGER INSTITUTE

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Spencer L. Davidson is President and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at The Harbinger Institute. He is a doctoral student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland where obtained the Master of Letters in Bible and the Contemporary World with Merit and dissertation, "The Value of Interpassivity for Evaluating Sermon Handouts in American Evangelical Churches," was marked with Distinction from St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews. His dissertation was selected for publication in the Bible and the Contemporary World Journal. Spencer holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Freed-Hardeman University.

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DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES

CHANCELLOR, THE HARBINGER INSTITUTE

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Dr. Larry D. Mathis is Distinguished Professor of Applied Social Sciences and Chancellor of The Harbinger Institute. He obtained the Doctor of Ministry in Family Ministry & Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Philosophy (ABD) in Leadership to graduate with High Distinction at John Wesley School of Leadership at Carolina University. Larry's doctoral dissertation is "A Qualitative Study of the Emotional Intelligence Leadership Characteristics of Nonprofits in Nashville, TN." He earned the Master of Science in Counseling magna cum laude and the Master of Divinity in Ministry & Counseling magna cum laude at Southern Christian University. He holds the Master of Arts in Religion from Lipscomb University and the Master of Arts in Old Testament summa cum laude at Alabama Christian School of Religion. He earned the Bachelor of Science in Bible and the Associate of Arts at Freed-Hardeman University. Larry served as Associate Editor for the book Man of God: Essays on the Life and Work of the Preacher.

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PROFESSOR OF GLOBAL HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION

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Dr. Shawn D. Mathis is Professor of Global Healthcare Leadership and Innovation with over 30 years of dedicated work in the global healthcare environment. He obtained the Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities with highest academic marks at Faulkner University. His doctoral dissertation was written on "The Virtue of Magnificence in Leonardo Bruni's History of the Florentine People." He earned a Master of Arts in Religion at Lipscomb University and a Bachelor of Science in Bible at Freed-Hardeman University. He earned the Diploma in Organisational Leadership and certificates in the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme and the Advanced Management and Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He holds certifications in The Board Directors' Programme at Henley Business School, University of Reading, and Corporate Governance at Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of The Aspen Institute’s Executive Seminar on Leadership, Values, and the Good Society. Presently, he is in academic study at Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences & Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, for a Master of Science in Global Healthcare Leadership. Shawn served as General Editor for the book Man of God: Essays on the Life and Work of the Preacher. His chapter, “Mastering the Power of People Development,” was recently published in the book, Mastering the Power of You, with Routledge Press in the United Kingdom.

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PROFESSOR OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

ACADEMIC DEAN, THE HARBINGER INSTITUTE

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Dr. Robert M. Woods is Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences, Academic Dean at The Harbinger Institute, and Editor of The Harbinger Journal. Robert is a respected figure and popular speaker on the subject of Great Books education, program and course development, and the continuing value of traditional liberal arts education. Having earned a PhD in Humanities from Florida State University, he developed and chaired a Great Books Honors College for over fifteen years at Faulkner University. He currently serves as Headmaster of Veritas Christian Academy, where he and his wife enjoy the mountains of Fletcher, NC. He also serves as a consultant and speaker for implementing Mortimer Adler’s Paideia approach to Classical education. Dr. Woods had his book Mortimer Adler: The Paideia Way of Classical Education published in 2019 and Dwelling on Delphi: Thinking Christianly about the Liberal Arts in 2016. Robert and his wife, Tina, enjoy camping and spending time with family in Georgia and Alabama. Robert is currently completing a Doctor of Arts in Social Sciences to be awarded with High Distinction at Harrison Middleton University with the dissertation on “A Social Scientific Paideia Study: Johan Huizinga and Jacques Barzun as Master Cultural Historians.” He has a book coming out in 2023 with Roman Roads Press titled Neither Angel Nor Beast: Thinking Christianly and Classically About the Social Sciences Tradition.

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ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF
RELIGIOUS STUDIES

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Dr. David W. Hester is an Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies. He obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament summa cum laude and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies summa cum laude at Amridge University's Turner School of Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Bible cum laude at Freed-Hardeman University. David is the author of Among the Scholars, Tampering with Truth, and Does Mark 16:9-20 Belong in the New Testament?" He recently completed a book manuscript to be published as Jesus Christ: A Thematic Study. He serves as Director of the Faulkner Bible Lectureship, Director of the Leaders Connect conference, and Associate Professor of New Testament at Faulkner University.

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ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF APPLIED
MINISTERIAL STUDIES

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Dr. David B. Looney is an Adjunct Professor of Applied Ministerial Studies at The Harbinger Institute. He obtained the Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy at Amridge University and wrote his dissertation on "Autism Spectrum Disorder: From Diagnosis to Starting Point…Knowing What to Do and Where to Go to Get the Help Needed for Your Child." He earned the Master of Ministry and Bachelor of Science in Bible at Freed-Hardeman University and the Bachelor of Arts in Bible at the Memphis School of Preaching. David provides counseling services to ministers, elders, deacons, and their families at Polishing the Pulpit, an annual conference in Sevierville, TN. He also provides counseling services and is a frequent speaker at The Great Smoky Mountain Marriage Retreat for newlywed couples. He serves as the Congregational Minister at North Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, TN, where he provides counseling services and has daily interactions with members of the church. David has taught Advanced Clinical Psychopathology in the Doctor of Behavioral Health program and teaches Death and Dying in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Freed-Hardeman University.

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ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES
DIRECTOR, CULTURAL APOLOGETICS PROGRAM

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Dean J. Meadows is Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Cultural Apologetics Program at The Harbinger Institute. He obtained the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics magna cum laude at Biola University, Talbot School of Theology, with a master's thesis on "The B-Theory Kalam Argument." He earned the Bachelor of Science in Bible & Ministry at Amridge University and the Bachelor of Theology in Bible at Bear Valley Bible Institute International. He serves as the Virginia Tech Campus Minister as a ministry of the Blacksburg Church of Christ.

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