Harding University Provost Larry Long has named Dr. Denise Fisher the new chair of the University’s department of family and consumer sciences effective August 1.

Fisher replaces Dr. Beth Wilson, who wishes to return to full-time teaching duties at the end of the summer. Wilson has served as department chair since 1984 and has been on the departmental faculty since 1971.

At Harding since 2005, Fisher was promoted to the rank of associate professor in 2013. She earned an M.Ed. from the University in 2003 and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 2007. Fisher is highly active in professional organizations in addition to teaching, having held several state-wide offices and serving at the national level, too.

“Dr. Wilson’s professionalism, effective leadership, collegiality, and dedicated service to the department and its students will be missed,” Long said. “I am confident that Dr. Fisher will continue to demonstrate her characteristic hard work, leadership, and commitment to Harding’s mission while serving as chair. She has impressed me through the years with her professionalism, energy and initiative.”