Liberty names Dr. Mark Eckel as Vice Provost of Biblical Integration

After helping to establish Liberty University’s Center for Biblical Integration and serving as executive director since 2024, Dr. Mark Eckel will begin a new role this week as Vice Provost for Biblical Integration.

Eckel has led an extensive career focused on Christ-centered education. He served as a junior and senior high school instructor at Christian K-12 schools for 20 years and was a professor, academic dean, and curriculum developer for Christian and public universities for over 20 years. Before coming to Liberty in February 2024, he served at Indiana University for 10 years. As a Biblical Worldview Integration (BWI) specialist, Eckel has presented on BWI at hundreds of seminars and events in various venues around the world. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Science Research from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Master’s in English from Indiana University, and Master of Theology in Old Testament from Grace Theological Seminary.

“Dr. Mark Eckel brings decades of experience as an educator in both secular and Christian environments, and his knowledge of Scripture and how it applies to every field and discipline makes him a clear match for advancing Liberty’s mission,” Chief Operating Officer Dr. Scott Hicks said. “In this new role, he will continue to ensure Liberty’s commitment to Christ-centered education with curriculum that infuses Scripture and faith into each program, developing Champions for Christ who will stand firm on their beliefs in the workplace, in their families, and in their communities after graduation.”

“In any field of study, you have to ask yourself what synthesizes that discipline with Scripture,” Eckel said. “We at Liberty University want a student to see the wholeness of his or her discipline from a biblical vantage point, to come away from their classes and be able to say, ‘I actually have a basis for my faith that helps me to understand it, and there are permeating principles that run through everything.’ A Christian ought to be able to prove, or give evidence for, whatever it is that they believe. Liberty students need to learn at every level how what they believe is different from what the world tells them, or what the popular belief is beyond their Christian community, and know why they believe what they believe to be true.”

Eckel will continue the work of Liberty’s Center for Biblical Integration in conjunction with the Center for Teaching Excellence, supporting and enhancing the biblical worldview education already present across all elements of classroom learning at Liberty. The concept for the center was developed by Liberty President Dondi E. Costin in December 2023 to further support, clarify, and steward Liberty’s longstanding commitment to Christ-centered education. From lectures to course announcements, assignment feedback, and presentations, the centers ensures that Liberty’s academic programs nurture students’ spiritual and academic growth. The center provides resources and training models in biblical worldview integration for all new residential and online faculty as they teach their courses through the lens of Scripture.

Eckel officially begins the new role on Wednesday, July 1.