Bruce McLarty

Bruce D. McLarty (born May 3, 1957) is an American academic and Christian minister. He served as the fifth president of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, from 2013 to 2020. Prior to becoming president of the university, McLarty served as the institution's Dean of the College of Bible and Ministry and as Vice President for Spiritual Life from 2005 to 2013. McLarty was the primary minister of College Church of Christ in Searcy from 1991 to 2005; he has held other preaching positions in Tennessee and Mississippi.

The Harding University Board of Trustees announced on October 30, 2020, that McLarty would end his tenure as president effective November 30. He was succeeded by former president David Burks, who served briefly as president until a permanent replacement was found. After three rounds of interviews, McLarty was announced as Burks' replacement on November 1, 2012. He officially started the role on June 1, 2013, and was inaugurated on September 20. and said that "[Jean] came through this school and left an impression on everybody here."

George S. Benson Auditorium controversy In June 2020, an alumnus created a Change.org petition calling for the renaming of Harding University's George S. Benson Auditorium. The auditorium's namesake, George S. Benson, served as the second president of Harding College from 1936 to 1965 and was at one time a defender of racial segregation The petition, which proposed putting Botham Jean's name on the building instead, arose in the wake of the George Floyd protests and the related racial unrest across the country.

On June 24, 2020, McLarty put out a statement confirming that the university would not rename the auditorium. "Rather than remove his name, the University needs to tell the more complete story of Dr. Benson - both the high points and the low points," McLarty stated on the matter. He expressed regret towards Harding's past of segregation, but used Benson's history as a missionary in Africa to defend him.

Dismissal On October 30, 2020, Harding University announced that McLarty's tenure as president would end on November 30. Dr. Robert Walker, chairman of the Board of Trustees, stated that "recent economic and higher education trends have created an extremely challenging business environment that has impacted the institution, leading the board to make a change." David Burks, McLarty's predecessor, took over as president on December 1 while a committee was formed to appoint a permanent successor.