Finance Department hires two new directors

Robert Wells, director of Risk Management

Liberty University recently hired two new directors in its Finance Department as the school moves toward 100,000 students enrolled and remains the largest private, nonprofit, four-year college in the country and the world’s largest Christian university.

Robert Wells started last month as Liberty’s first director of Risk Management. He comes to Liberty from Chesapeake, Va., where he was director of purchasing and insurance for the Christian Broadcasting Network.

A native of Amherst County, he was thrilled to return to his roots.

“For me, I couldn’t have imagined a better fit, somewhere I was familiar with and doing the type of work I’ve been doing for over 20 years,” Wells said.

He said the new role was necessitated by the “tremendous growth” at the university, especially with a quarter of a billion dollar campus transformation underway and the amount of contracts that must be reviewed, “but that’s what I enjoy, the challenge.”

Wells holds a B.S. in Business from Lynchburg College and a CPCU certification in insurance.

Liberty also welcomed Deb Nightingale as its new director of Card Services in August, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience meeting college students’ needs through their campus ID cards. She administers all aspects of Liberty’s card, called the Flames Pass, which gives students access to meal plans, Flames Cash (also used at off-campus locations), book vouchers, book dollars, discounts, and to recreational and athletic facilities and Student Activities events.

Deb Nightingale, director of Card Services

Nightingale came to Liberty from Gorham, Maine, where she worked for the University of Southern Maine and served for 11 years as the school’s assistant director of Card Services.

Since she has been at Liberty, Card Services has already expanded its offerings for students.

“We’re looking to provide more services, to enhance and make their life on campus a little bit easier,” she said, like using Flames Cash at hockey game concessions. Possibilities for use also include Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre and Postal Services.

The office is also providing other departments useful data and demographic information from the Flames Pass, including facility usage, peak times, etc., and is working closely with Access Control to make entries into events and residence halls more secure.

Nightingale said working in a Christian environment is the best perk of the job.

“I constantly pinch myself — it’s overwhelming for me,” she said. “I love Convocation, being able to pray with staff, I love walking through the halls and seeing staff members pray for each other. … It’s confirmation I was supposed to be here. I know God has me here to grow me even more and Liberty is a great place to do that.”

Nightingale holds a B.S. in Applied Technical Education from University of Southern Maine and is a certified operator, CBord (one-card system) and CCure (access control).