Dear Chris, We are excited to announce that we are officially beginning the search for Liberty University’s next president. As an alum, you know the importance of our mission to Train Champions for Christ. Our next president will guide us in continuing that mission and increasing our impact around the world. To help us with this search, we have hired one of the nation’s best executive search firms, CarterBaldwin, and we are ready to transition from planning and preparation to actively recruiting our next president. Below is a leadership profile created with input from the Liberty University family that offers insight for prospective candidates to better understand the university, the role of president, and the expectations we have for this office. Here are the details: https://mailtrack04.liberty.edu/ct.asp?id=6300BD88C4DCFC6224EA6FC88584AC6DD14E732B75631A73DB4B71FF59D1B120E35114D3B8D2A553E554E21040D2911A75421822319DE6FBD84946BEAB2DAB57&ct=4aeUs1kAAABCWmgzMUFZJlNZybCFAgAAFx%2bAAAPQMAAEQAA%2fZ96gIABIim0hkbJGI9T2qBRkmnqbFM1AaPT5rBrpQKkvNIwhUtTV8U6DyPE87sCR7Eu8aqHmbmqkDQDdDgV3ZtkdQFhoP0UL8OylPIu5IpwoSGTYQoEA
I saw the subject line and "Dear Chris," and for maybe ten milliseconds I was like, "He's LU's new President? My man!"
Board unanimously appoints Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dondi E. Costin, Ph.D., as president, Pastor Jonathan Falwell as chancellor https://www.liberty.edu/news/2023/03/31/board-unanimously-appoints-maj-gen-ret-dondi-e-costin-ph-d-as-president-pastor-jonathan-falwell-as-chancellor/#:~:text=During%20the%20spring%20meeting%20of,third%20chancellor%20of%20the%20University "In addition to a bachelor’s degree in operations research from The United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Costin holds five master’s degrees*, a Doctor of Ministry degree, and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership." *I don't feel bad thinking about a third master's degree after all
For those who are curious, two of those are from Air University, two are from Liberty University, and he also holds an MDiv from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, from which he also earned a PhD and a DMin.
The Air University degrees are probably from completing Air Command & Staff College and Air War College. You write a thesis after completing these courses and get a degree for it.
Thing about Falwell's University is that however much I might find their religious message off putting, they are consistent in maintaining recognized accreditation. They aren’t incompetent nor do they live in some sort of ultra Right fantasy land.
I like what what I see, resume wise. He is the former president at Charleston Southern, so there is that. So far, I am impressed.
As President, I imagine a breath of fresh air in terms of professionalism, credibility, and competency after Junior. Though to be fair Liberty did very well academically and in terms of endowment under Junior. It was the rest of what came with him in terms of tumultuous relationships with faculty and side show issues that did him in. I believe from what I have read that Jonathan Falwell is different from his brother and likely to be good in the role of Chancellor. Incidentally, Jonathan Falwell has a JD from Howard Taft University (didn't take the bar) in addition to BA and MA from Liberty.