Education 2025: COSTIN, MAJ. GEN. DONDI E. (U.S. AIR FORCE, RET.)

Costin, a retired 32-year Air Force veteran who went on to serve five years as president of Charleston Southern University, became president of Liberty in 2023 during a time of turmoil.

The private evangelical university was rocked by the 2020 ouster of former President and Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr., the late founder’s son, and in 2021, 22 former students and employees claimed in a federal lawsuit that Liberty officials discouraged them from reporting sexual assaults to authorities.

In 2024, Liberty agreed to pay Falwell $15 million in a settlement that includes a $5.5 million payment to resolve lawsuits and about $9.7 million as part of his retirement package.

This year, Liberty had its largest-ever commencement with more than 32,000 graduates. Gov. Glenn Youngkin spoke at the graduation ceremony.

A decorated combat veteran who finished his military career as Air Force chief of chaplains, Costin holds five master’s degrees, including two from

Liberty, along with a doctor of ministry degree and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership. Costin received the 2024 Leadership Achievement Award from the U.S. Air Force Academy Association of Graduates.

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