Executive Trustees: ‘You can call him President Prevo’

The Executive Committee of Liberty University’s Board of Trustees met on Wednesday to send a strong, public message of confidence and support of President Jerry Prevo. In a formal resolution, which was sent to all Liberty faculty, staff, and students on Friday, the members expressed to the campus community that “even though we are in a transitional period of leadership,  Jerry Prevo has the full authority to manage the university as its chief executive officer.” The committee also clarified that he may be referred to simply as President and/or CEO.

Since August, the Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee have renewed their focus on Christian leadership, taking many necessary steps to put a strong leader in place who will affirm the university’s spiritual mission on multiple fronts and use his full authority to work in the best interest of the university.

As the email to employees states, “the interim nature of his position should not cause any of you to doubt his full authority to manage the university. … He is not expected to simply be a caretaker or placeholder president.”

As part of their responsibilities, the Board announced on Aug. 10 that former Board Chairman Jerry Prevo had accepted the appointment to serve as acting President. On Aug. 21, in a special meeting of the Board, the members asked Prevo to use his time of Christian leadership to reset the spiritual focus and emphasis at the University and expressed support for the spiritual revival plans Prevo announced. On Aug. 31, the Board charged Prevo “to use the full range of his presidential authority to implement any changes necessary to improve the ongoing operations of the University, and to enrich the spiritual mission of Liberty University, not only for its students but also for every executive, administrator, faculty member, and the entire staff, and for a prospective new president, as well.”

Executive Committee Chairman Harvey Gainey said the Board recognizes that the 2020-21 academic year has brought many challenges and also many blessings to Liberty University. Through it all, dedicated staff have been hard at work to make sure in-person classes and a vibrant campus life can continue and, more importantly, that the university maintains its strong foothold on the core values that make it a unique, thriving Christian institution of higher learning.

He added that the Board of Trustees appreciates continued prayers for their work, and that they will be guided in the love of Christ as they join together to lead Liberty University and prepare it for the future.

The formal resolution from the Executive Committee, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, is as follows:

“Whereas, the Liberty University Board of Trustees has ratified its Executive Committee’s decision to appoint Jerry Prevo as the acting President for an indefinite period of time;

 And, whereas the Board of Trustees Executive Committee wishes to clarify his authority to act in all matters related to managing the University’s affairs and hereby states the following:

 For as long as Jerry Prevo serves as the acting President of Liberty University, Jerry Prevo has full authority as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University; and to act in that capacity in all management affairs of Liberty University.  He may be properly referred to as President and/or Chief Executive Officer.”