Spring 2019 Employee Newsletter

A Word from the President

Our Liberty University family is growing and expanding, and we are glad to welcome our newest members this year. Two of those new faces are Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze, who will be leading the Liberty Flames into their second year in the FBS, and Head Soccer Coach Kelly Findley, who brings two decades of coaching experience to Liberty’s men’s soccer program. We’re also proud of the amazing leadership coming from our new deans in the School of Business (David Brat), School of Behavioral Sciences (Dr. Kenyon Knapp), and the School of Engineering (Dr. Mark Horstemeyer).

Earlier this year, we named Tony Nobles our new executive director for the Center for Entrepreneurship. Tony has founded more than 28 companies in the fields of electronics, medical devices, banking, automotive engineering, retail, and real estate, among others.

At Liberty, men and women from various backgrounds are sharing their passions and experiences with our students in the classroom and through athletics every day.

I am proud of our faculty and staff and the wealth of knowledge, skills, and talent they bring to this university. Recently, our School of Law 2018 graduates posted the highest bar passage rate among first-time test-takers in school history at 95.65 percent. That’s an incredible accomplishment and speaks highly of the time that our faculty and staff invest in our students. When our students graduate, they excel in their careers and impact the world because of the Christian education and encouragement they received from their mentors at Liberty.

Our Liberty family is certainly growing, and I am also very proud to announce that the Falwell family is growing, too. Our newest family member, Reagan Elise, was born Saturday, Feb. 9. We look forward to taking her on a tour of campus and teaching her all about the world’s best university!

Liberty Men’s Basketball Wins 2019 ASUN Championship

Liberty Men’s Basketball won the 2019 ASUN Championship by defeating Lipscomb. The Flames have now punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament and will find out who they play when the bracket is announced on Sunday, March 17, at 6 p.m. on CBS.

The Flames Club is hosting an NCAA Selection Show watch party for all Flames fans in the Vines Center on Sunday, March 17.  Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the Selection Show to begin at 6 p.m.  Shuttles will be available from 4:45 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.  All of Flames Nation is invited to come and see who the Flames’ opponent will be in the Big Dance. The men’s basketball team will be there with Sparky and the cheerleaders. Light refreshments will be served.

Liberty will receive a limited number of tickets to the Flames’ first round game, but priority will be given to Flames Club members before any tickets are made available to the public.

This is an exciting time for Flames Basketball, and we cannot thank you enough for all of your support this season.

Liberty Hires New Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze

President Jerry Falwell and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw have announced the hiring of Hugh Freeze as the ninth head coach in the history of Flames Football.

With over 25 years in coaching, Freeze brings a wealth of experience, having served as head coach for Lambuth University, Arkansas State, and Ole Miss. His career success includes conference titles, nationally ranked recruiting classes, and bowl appearances.

See him in action at the Spring Game on March 30 at 1 p.m. in Williams Stadium when Liberty’s offensive and defensive teams face off in a scrimmage. Don’t miss out on this exciting preview of the upcoming football season under our new head coach.

Liberty Journal

Get the latest edition of the Liberty Journal today!

Featured stories in this edition of the magazine include the war on opioids, a Q & A session with new Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze, and how Liberty students are “learning by doing” through extracurricular opportunities, special projects, and simulation exercises in a number of disciplines.

The Liberty Journal is available at newsstands on campus and also online at Liberty.edu/Journal.

CRASE Training Classes Offered This Spring

Each semester, Liberty provides Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training for faculty and staff. Each training event will cover, in detail, civilian responsibilities during a violent workplace incident, along with lifesaving and rational plans for your survival in the workplace.

Spring CRASE sessions will be held on:

• March 18, 8-10 a.m. | Green Hall, LaHaye Event Space
• April 22, 6-8 p.m. | Hancock Welcome Center, Main Banquet Area

To register, click on the desired date above. For a better understanding of the importance of being prepared, please watch Liberty University’s Active Shooter Response video.

Baseball and Softball Employee Appreciation Day

Enjoy a game on us! As a thank-you for all that you do, Liberty is providing complimentary general admission tickets to the Liberty softball game against Tennessee on Tuesday, March 19, at 5 p.m. You can also get $2 general admission tickets to the Liberty baseball game against NJIT on Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m.

To claim your tickets, click here.

You can present your ticket(s) electronically at the gate or print them out to bring with you.

Please note that the clear bag policy is in effect at Liberty Baseball Stadium and Liberty Softball Stadium.

School of Music Spring Concert Series

Don’t miss out on the School of Music’s Spring Concert Series! This season includes a variety of exciting performances, including:

• Wind Symphony Concert | March 21, 7:30 p.m.
• Songwriting Showcase | March 25, 7 p.m.
• Opera: The Pirates of Penzance | March 29, 7:30 p.m.
• Night of Worship | April 14, 6 p.m.

All events are open to the public. Many are free to the public, but some require a purchase or reservation of tickets.

For a full list of events and ticket prices, go to the School of Music’s calendar of events.

Research Week Is Coming Up

Do you know a student with a passion for research? Encourage them to participate in Liberty’s Research Week, April 15-19.

Sponsored by The Graduate School, the Center for Research & Scholarship, and the Jerry Falwell Library, Research Week is a multidisciplinary event designed to highlight excellent research and scholarship produced by Liberty students. Undergraduate and graduate students — both residentially and online — are invited to participate. Submissions are now open online.

Travel to Israel

The Office of Spiritual Development and Alumni Relations invite you and your immediate family (over age 16) on our first “Journey of Champions” to Israel with Dr. Ed Hindson, June 7–16, 2019!

While in Israel, you will:

• Enjoy a welcoming ceremony in Joppa
• Learn from Dr. Ed Hindson
• Sail on the Sea of Galilee
• Float in the Dead Sea
• Walk the paths of Jesus and His disciples
• Experience Israel’s world-class cuisine
• Explore the modern city of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the Jewish people

Register for the extension package and you will also:

• Trek to Petra
• Snorkel in the Red Sea
• Attend the Jerusalem Encounter Conference

Learn more and apply on our website. Space is limited, so don’t wait to sign up for this incredible trip. We look forward to walking through the Holy Land with you and seeing the Bible come alive!

Please note: Your participation requires either vacation time or unpaid leave. Special discounts are available for ordained clergy. Participants are not entitled to hourly pay or per diem. 

Have You Visited the Employee Bulletin Board?

Did you know that you can find all of Liberty’s upcoming events and information in one easy location? The Employee Bulletin Board is your one-stop shop for important announcements, special events, and great discounts. Don’t miss out. Visit the Employee Bulletin Board today.

Interested in advertising an event or need to make a campuswide announcement? Contact your project coordinator or email marketing@liberty.edu for more information.

Employees of the Month

Congratulations to our Employees of the Month. You are a tremendous blessing to this university, and we are thankful for you. This recognition is proof that you go above and beyond expectations to consistently produce excellent work with a Christlike attitude and spirit. Thank you for all you do to make Liberty a shining light.

April: Kathy Bennett, Rose Boswell, Brian Brown, Christopher Chambers, Tory Doughty, James Harris, Brittany Liberto, Jeddy Mbugua, Carrie Mitchell, Raymond Noland, Brien Sabella, Jake Shellenberger, Lauren Spahr, David Summy, John Travis, Bill Tussi, and James Wells.

May: Jason Brake, Connor Bryant, Aaron Garcia, Robert Goodman, Hunter Hamilton, Tracey Lindsay, Mark Miller, Kari Moye, Jessica Pandorf, Joyce Roberts, Bianca Scott, Jeremy Taylor, Haley Wheeler, Ryan Wheeler, Deion Whittington, Alan Wilkins, KeAndre Williams, and Tim Yonts.

June: Brooke Campbell, Ashley Deanda, Brandon Elrod, Jeffery Harper, Kassy McAloon, Brianna O’Neal, Ed Ridge, Kimberly Ryckman, Sara Schartiger, Rachel Shallenberger, Kenny Spradlin, Tim Stearns, and Matthew Warner.

You Stand Out

Senior university leadership has been looking for staff members who exemplify an exceptional commitment to Liberty’s customer service standards. Last month, tickets* were handed out as our way of thanking those whose hard work and dedication (often behind the scenes) make a difference.

Congratulations to our You Stand Out recipients: Douglas Lee Allen, Kayla Bailey, Gregory Berry, Eugene Brown, Javon Campbell, Sydney Coffey, Brandon Coles, Courtney Cox, Lynn Cuba, Andrew Dahlby, William J. Dogan, Laura Dutkus, William Faber, Erika Garcia, Mike Gerringer, Joshua Gittens, Meesha Hickson, Chad Hotelling, Kat Hunter, Rick Jadin, Cody Jones, Lisa Kinsley,  Adyson Rose LeClair, Corey Leistner, Benjamin Nicholes, Kareen Ousley, Frank Palmer, Steven Proco, Rebekah Ray, Bryan Richey, Brayden Shambley, Barry Simpson, Sean Solitro, Barry Spence, Christina Thomas, Jacques Thomas, and Timothy Yonts.