College of Arts & Sciences dean to step down after 24 years of service at Liberty
May 14, 2026 : By Office of Communications & Public Engagement
Liberty University has announced that College of Arts & Sciences Dean Dr. Roger Schultz will be leaving his role at the conclusion of the spring semester. Schultz has served as a faculty member at Liberty University for over 24 years and as dean since 2006.
“Dr. Roger Schultz has been a stalwart presence among the deans and leaders at Liberty, with over 20 years of scholarly influence and direction for the many disciplines taught within the College of Arts & Sciences,” said Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Scott Hicks. “His drive for academic success on our campus and his care for our students has been clear, and we are thankful for his decades of service to Liberty University.”
Schultz will transition to a part-time consulting and special projects role as he helps the school find his successor and makes plans for retirement.
Schultz first came to Liberty in 2002 to become the chair of the Department of History after teaching at Virginia Intermont College for 13 years. He simultaneously served as associate dean of Arts & Sciences from 2004 to 2006.
“I came here because I wanted to work at a specifically Christian university,” Schultz said. “The opportunity to serve at a Christ-centered, biblically based university is the thing that has kept me here and has made my job a joy.”
Throughout his career, Schultz has specialized in American religious history, with a particular interest in the interaction of religion and culture. His essays and reviews have appeared in numerous publications and have been translated into Hungarian and Spanish. His recent work has focused on the 18th century theologian Jonathan Edwards, Christians in the American Revolution, and Biblical principles of government. Schultz frequently preaches in local churches and speaks at academic and Christian conferences. He holds a Ph.D. from University of Arkansas, master’s from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and bachelor’s from Bemidji State University.
Over his 20 years as dean, Schultz said he has witnessed the growth of multiple programs under his guidance, including a continued track record among students and faculty who have earned Fulbright grants, the success of the Honors College he helped create, the rise of the Army and Air Force ROTC programs, and the history department’s online master’s and doctoral programs which have become some of the largest in the country.
“Dr. Schultz’s passion for history, especially that of America’s founding as a Christian nation, has been inspiring to countless people,” said Dr. Brian Yates, vice provost of Resident Programs and Student Success. “He has led as a true example of a Champion for Christ — an expert in his field who exemplifies and amplifies Christ in his life and work.”
Schultz is the father of nine children (all of whom are Liberty alumni) and recently celebrated the birth of his 30th grandchild. In this new chapter, Schultz said he plans to be “increasingly focused on ministering to our growing extended family.”
Dr. Samuel Smith, who has served as the Department of History chair and graduate program director since 2016, will serve as interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
