Godwin leaves legacy

Former provost retires after serving with Liberty for more than 20 years

“My wife often called it my second marriage.”

Dr. Ronald Godwin, former provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, was referring to his close friendship with the late Jerry Falwell, Sr. According to Godwin, Falwell’s vision and constant happiness were a source of great encouragement and inspiration to him during his more than 20 years of service to the university.

When Falwell died in 2007, Godwin found it to be the hardest time in his career at Liberty.

“For whatever reason, Dr. Falwell purposefully collected what I called cracked vessels and wounded soldiers to fight his battles, and I happened to be one of those cracked vessels that he chose,” Godwin said.

Now, officially retired from his most recent position as university provost, Godwin reflected on his relationship with the university during times of adversity, speaking of the university’s early struggles and “near-death experiences.”

Godwin impacted the university with his expertise in both academics and business. He was determined to do his part to keep the university above the waves when others might have been doubtful of its resiliency.

According to President Jerry Falwell, Jr., Godwin became provost in late 2010 and helped to build the Provost Office, which develops and implements the academic vision of the university while analyzing ways to reduce costs and increase revenue. In his official university announcement, Falwell stated that the programs which Godwin directly oversaw, including online and residential initiatives, resulted in a $9.1 million net gain.

As senior vice president of academic affairs, Godwin worked directly with the president on university affiliated ministries and was instrumental in the development of Liberty’s distance learning program. According to Falwell, this placed Liberty in the forefront of online programs for higher education.

As an administrator, Godwin held various leadership positions within Liberty. According to the Liberty News Service, these include vice president of the Moral Majority, president of Jerry Falwell Ministries, president of Liberty Broadcast Network, president of Liberty University Foundation, dean of the Helms School of Government and senior administrator of residential recruiting at Liberty.

According to Godwin, change was a constant theme throughout his time with Liberty, and he often focused on finding ways to grow the institution.

“I’m a change agent by nature, by career, by livelihood,” Godwin said. “I change things. I’m a lot better at building a new store or new program or new division than minding one. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I’ve decided to retire. As a result of Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s prudent and creative leadership, he has this huge thing up and running like a well-oiled machine, and I’m not as excited at minding it as I was at helping to build it to where it is today.”

Godwin added the university’s good financial standing as an additional reason for his retirement. According to Godwin, Liberty has not always enjoyed the financial stability it now prizes under its current president.

Ron Hawkins, vice president for academic affairs and vice provost, reflected on Godwin’s leadership, noting his ability to oversee incredible growth both on campus and in academic offerings.

“I have always admired Ron’s capacity for leadership,” Hawkins said. “He is an energetic leader who possesses a keen ability to analyze any problem and get to a bottom-line solution.”

Though Godwin is moving on to a new part of his life, he made it clear that he has no intentions of sitting by idly.

“I’m very excited myself,” Godwin said. “I’m 77. Some people think I should go sit on the front porch and rock all day. … I can’t say I have any interest in that.”

Godwin, all too familiar with the trials and excitements that come with seasons of change, encouraged current seniors preparing for graduation to embrace this time of change in their lives and use it as an instrument to impact the world.

“What you are doing as a senior is confronting another time of change,” Godwin said. “Whether it becomes an opportunity for progress or a chance to move back home with Momma is up to the individual. I look at the end of my career here with appreciation and gratitude, just as you should in your position. It’s a chance to anticipate what the future holds.”

Godwin expressed his appreciation for what God has and is still doing through Liberty, and summed up his time with the university in one phrase.

“An era of supernatural blessing.”

Van dyk is the news editor.