Liberty University hires Alaska GOP chair

Liberty University has hired the Alaska Republican Party’s chairman, the Rev. Glenn Clary, for the newly created position of vice president of strategic partnerships and alliances, the Lynchburg-based Christian university announced Tuesday.

Clary became chairman of Alaska’s state GOP in 2018. He also has worked as a pastor at Anchorage Baptist Temple. Alaska’s most influential Baptist church, Anchorage Baptist Temple was founded by acting Liberty President Jerry Prevo, who retired last year as its senior pastor after 47 years.

“I’ve known Glenn for over 40 years, and he is a man of integrity, energy and commitment to Christ,” Prevo said in a statement. “He assisted me for many years at Anchorage Baptist Temple, providing invaluable counsel and skill in the leadership of the church, helping us to grow into one of the largest churches in the state of Alaska. Glenn will bring that same drive and commitment to the task of fulfilling our mission here at Liberty — to train champions for Christ.”

Prevo was chairman of Liberty’s board of trustees when he was appointed acting president of the university in August 2020, following the highly publicized resignation of Jerry Falwell Jr., the school’s controversial previous president and chancellor.

Liberty announced Wednesday that it planned to return to normal campus operations in the fall. “With national and state data showing suppression of the spread of the virus, we are encouraged, foremost, that our prayers are being answered,” Prevo said. “If the data continues on this positive trajectory, and as local and state guidelines continue to be lifted, our campus will welcome students back in the fall — and we will do so without restrictions.”

With more than 127,000 students enrolled, most of them online, Liberty is Virginia’s largest school by enrollment and is the nation’s second-largest online university, behind the University of Phoenix.

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