The Changing of the Guard

(left to right) Clark Morris and Richard Harriman

by Tim Ackerman, Marketing Manager, Harriman Arts Program

It’s been six years in the making and, as of August, it’s official: Clark Morris has been named executive director of the Harriman Arts Program of William Jewell College. The program’s founder, Richard Harriman, now holds the position of artistic director, and will turn his full attention to season programming.

“Clark has worked with the program for more than 13 years...a few years more if you count his time while working as a Jewell student,” Harriman said.“But it’s not his longevity that qualifies him to lead the program; that decision was based on his proven ability,” Harriman continued. “Many of our patrons will remember my formal announcement of the transition plan at the Marilyn Horne recital gala in 2000. I said then that my father retired at 87 and, after he had been sitting around the house a few weeks,my mother claimed that it was too early.As long as I am able, I plan to actively contribute to the program’s success.”

Clark Morris, 35, has held each position within the program at some point during his career, and has managed the program’s staff and budget for the past six years while serving as associate director. Morris acknowledges that patrons will witness changes in the program,but not as a direct result of the transition in leadership.

“I’m not one who is anxious to impose a personal agenda or introduce change for change’s sake,” Morris said.“Change for the program is made when there is an apparent need, or an opportunity for innovation presents itself.”

While change for the program is certain to occur over time, an overarching objective for the transition is to offer patrons an assurance of quality and consistency.“We subscribe to the classic model of joint leadership by executive and artistic directors,” Morris said. “Richard has been consistently inclusive when making big decisions concerning the program and I will be too,” he said.

A critical player in the new leadership structure is the president of William Jewell College, Dr. David Sallee. Morris reports directly to Sallee and the president, in turn, answers to the college’s board of trustees.“This program is one of the college’s brightest gems,” Sallee said.“I have great confidence in Clark’s ability to lead it toward further success. It goes without saying that Richard is an invaluable asset to the program His gift for arts programming is unparalleled.”