Liberty leadership recognized on Virginia Business’ 500 Power List
September 18, 2026 : By Office of Communications & Public Engagement
Two Liberty University leaders were recognized on Virginia Business’ sixth annual “Virginia 500 Power List,” which highlights individuals across 21 sectors who are leading the commonwealth in enriching lives and developing the economy.
President Dondi E. Costin was listed in the education category, recognized for leading Liberty with the highest enrollment out of any school in Virginia in the 2025-26 academic year. (The university welcomed its largest new student residential undergraduate incoming class in history this fall, at 4,838, including transfer students. Overall enrollment across residential, online, and Liberty University Online Academy (K-12) programs now tops a record 167,000 students.) The publication noted that since stepping into the presidential role in 2023, Costin has focused on helping the university grow while maintaining its mission to Train Champions for Christ, largely through a new student development model that has refocused every department on that mission.
School of Law Dean Timothy M. Todd was recognized in the law category as he led Liberty Law through a historic year in his inaugural year as dean. Todd has overseen a record-breaking graduating class in Spring 2025 — which saw 95% of its graduates employed after graduating — and the largest-ever first-year class in Liberty Law history last fall. (Liberty Law is celebrating its largest enrollment in history this fall at nearly 350 law students.)
He serves as Chair for the Virginia Society of CPAs Tax Advisory Committee, is on the board of directors for the Financial Planning Association, and is a member of the Virginia State Bar Tax Section’s Board of Governors. Todd has served as Vice Chair of the Virginia Bar Association Taxation Section and is a Forbes contributor on taxes and tax planning. He graduated at the top of his class at Liberty Law in 2011 and was the first Liberty Law alumnus to join the ranks of full-time faculty at the school.
The 500 Power List executives were selected following an extensive yearlong process during which editors surveyed and consulted with business leaders throughout the commonwealth.
