Mark Hine will aid neighbor organization as interim school superintendent

Dr. Mark Hine, senior vice president for Student Affairs at Liberty University, has been named interim superintendent at Liberty Christian Academy (LCA), a private Christian school for preschool through 12th grade located adjacent to the university.

Hine will retain his duties as head of Student Affairs at Liberty during his interim LCA role.

Hine has served as chairman of LCA’s school board for three years. Two of his daughters attended LCA and his wife taught kindergarten there.

“I look forward to working with a wonderful group of students at LCA as the board begins its search for a new superintendent,” Hine said. “LCA remains the gold standard for private Christian education in the country, and I am proud to come alongside the parents and the great team at LCA to provide a rewarding academic experience for students as they grow in their faith.”

Liberty and LCA have had a close relationship over the years; Liberty founder Dr. Jerry Falwell established the university in 1971 and the then-Lynchburg Christian Academy in 1967.

Liberty purchased the LCA property in 2017, but LCA operates as a separate entity with its own governing board and remains a ministry of Thomas Road Baptist Church (also founded by Falwell). It is the largest private Christian Pre K-12 school in Virginia.

Hine, who became a student at Liberty in 1973, remembers when Liberty classes were in the same building as LCA at the former Thomas Road Baptist Church property.

“Dr. Falwell left a legacy at Thomas Road, Liberty, and LCA, and it was his vision to offer biblically based education for students from pre-school through a graduate university,” Hine said. “I am excited to build on a great foundation at LCA and continue the great work that is happening there.”

At Liberty, Hine supports the entire student body by overseeing the Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Residence Life, Student Health and Wellness Services, Office of Student Affairs Assessment, Student Government Association and Army and Air Force ROTC. He began working for LU’s Division of Student Affairs in 1979 when he became a resident director. Since that time, Hine has served as associate dean of men, dean of graduate and commuter students, acting dean of men, dean of students, associate vice president for student development, and vice president for Student Affairs. He holds a M.Div. and D.Min. from Liberty as well as a B.S. in Youth Ministry.

At LCA, Hine will fulfill part of the responsibilities held by Dr. John Patterson, who announced late last year that he was resigning as head of schools at the end of the 2019-20 school year to become head of schools at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Ga.