Holland accepts new position

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Former recruiter returns home to expand creative arts and social media

Jake Holland’s bearded face is one almost every residential student at Liberty knows. From Coffeehouse host to national recruiter, Holland has played a highly active role in the university over the last four years. That legacy will continue this year, as Holland moves into the position of creative arts associate director.

Holland said President Jerry Falwell called him during the summer and asked him to pray about being a part of the transition after Johnnie Moore, former senior vice president for communications, left.

“I was able to meet with the executive leadership and David Nasser to see if I’d be a good fit for this new era,” Holland said. “I’m guessing everything clicked, because now I have a new job.”

Holland’s new position involves assisting with the creative and social media aspects of both Convocation and Campus Church. As he headed into the third week of his new job, Holland said he is loving it and that all of his colleagues have been extremely welcoming.

“I love this school, as well as being challenged creatively,” Holland said. “It’s also an understatement that I love social media, so any opportunities that arise in that realm are definitely welcomed.”

The new position also involves less travel than being a national recruiter. As much as Holland enjoyed the opportunities to travel to new places and meet new people, he said he also missed being in Lynchburg.

“Traveling that much is fun, and I enjoyed it for a season,” Holland said. “But, it was time to transition out of that.”

The biggest lesson Holland took away from his time as a national recruiter was to always seize the moment.

“Don’t waste any chances to explore wherever you’re sent,” Holland said. “If that means going to bed earlier than usual the night before, do it.”

He said his new job reminds him a good deal of his experience with Student Activities (SA) , both because of the creative aspect and the chance to interact with students on a weekly basis. Working with SA also helped Holland become comfortable with being a recognizable face on campus.

“I’ve grown to accept my extroverted side and balance my introverted tendencies,” Holland said. “I’m more prone to thinking outside the box now with the opportunities and challenges ahead in my new department.”

He said working for Liberty is a very unique experience. The amazing job opportunities, continually growing campus and interactions with people he otherwise would not have met, make working for his alma mater extremely rewarding. All perks aside, he said the work environment at Liberty is also very different from that of a secular workplace.

“There’s a much more unified sense of community and purpose in all of the departments I’ve worked in,” Holland said. “People have been far more open and intentional about finding common ground and seeking ways to bond and collaborate.”

While Holland does not miss attending classes or writing papers, he said his new job allows him to still experience the best things about being a student at Liberty.
“It’s like I get to enjoy everything else minus the education side of things,” Holland said. “Friends are still here in abundance, concerts aren’t limited to students, and I still have plenty of time to enjoy the greater Lynchburg area and beyond.”

Holland encouraged students to be active while on campus and to take full advantage of the opportunities around them.

“Step outside of your comfort zone,” Holland said. “Meet people completely different from yourself and invest time in them. Go to meetings and events you’d normally be too scared to go, explore beyond the boundaries of campus, and buy a ridiculous pair of footie pajamas.”