Lisa M. Beardsley-Hardy has been elected to serve as General Conference Director of Education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the 2025–2030 term during the 62nd General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Born in England and holding UK, Finnish, and US citizenship, Beardsley-Hardy brings decades of global academic and administrative experience to the role. She earned a Bachelor of Theology from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Far East (now AIIAS), and holds advanced degrees in public health (MPH, Loma Linda University), educational psychology (PhD, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa), and management (MBA, Claremont Graduate University).

Her faculty appointments have included positions at the University of Hawai’i, the University of Illinois, Andrews University, and Loma Linda University. She has also held numerous leadership roles, including associate vice president for academic affairs at Andrews University and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Loma Linda University. In addition, she has served as a chaplain and is endorsed as both an educational and associate health-care chaplain.

She is married to Frank Hardy and is a mother and grandmother. Her hobbies include mushroom hunting, cross-country skiing, and music.

The Education Department oversees the worldwide network of Adventist schools, colleges, and universities, promoting Christ-centered learning. It develops policies, provides teacher training, and ensures academic excellence while emphasizing spiritual and moral development. The department supports more than  8,000 educational institutions, preparing students for service in both faith and society.

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