Jerry Lee Prevo (born January 12, 1945) is an American academic administrator and retired Baptist minister. He was the president of Liberty University from August 2020 to March 2023.
Jerry Prevo | |
---|---|
5th President of Liberty University | |
In office August 10, 2020 – March 31, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Jerry Falwell Jr. |
Succeeded by | Dondi Costin |
Personal details | |
Born | Jerry Lee Prevo January 12, 1945 Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S. |
Spouse | Carol Sherwood |
Education | Baptist Bible College (BA) Hyles–Anderson College (DDiv) |
Early life and education
editPrevo was born on January 12, 1945, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to Milan and Aray Phillips Prevo.[1][2] He graduated from Baptist Bible College. He did graduate work at Belmont University, Tennessee Temple University, the University of Tennessee, and Chapman College. A Doctor of Divinity degree was conferred on him by Hyles–Anderson College.[3][4]
Career
editFor 47 years, Prevo was a pastor at the Anchorage Baptist Temple in Anchorage, Alaska. In January 1980, he founded Alaska's chapter of the Moral Majority and began to boost Republican politicians.[5] Upon his retirement from the Anchorage Baptist Temple in March 2019, the Anchorage Daily News referred to him as the city's "loudest evangelical voice."[6]
In 2020, Prevo was serving as chairman of the board of trustees of Liberty University when controversial photos of Jerry Falwell Jr. came to light.[7][8] After Falwell resigned, Prevo was selected by the university's executive committee to serve as the school's interim president.[9][10][11]
Prevo was replaced as president of Liberty University by Dondi Costin in March 2023.[12]
References
edit- ^ Perala, Andrew (October 30, 1986). "No Middle Ground". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "Milan Jack Prevo". The Terre Haute Tribune. June 22, 1975. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 12-14-1979 (The Journal Champion Volume 2, Issue 11)
- ^ Towns, Elmer (1975). "Humility Helped Them Grow". Christian Life.
- ^ "Episcopalians Rap 'Majority'". Daily Sitka Sentinel. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Rev. Jerry Prevo, Anchorage's loudest evangelical voice, is retiring after 47 years". Anchorage Daily News. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ Svrluga, Susan. "Liberty University names acting president after Jerry Falwell Jr. placed on leave of absence". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "Board of Trustees | Liberty University". Board of Trustees. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ Williamson, Jeff (2020-08-10). "Liberty University names Jerry Prevo as acting president". WSLS. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ Todd, Sara Grace (2020-08-07). "Jerry Prevo, Chairman of LU Board of Trustees comments on Falwell's leave of absence". WSET. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ "Liberty University names Jerry Prevo of Anchorage acting leader with Falwell on leave". Anchorage Daily News. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- ^ Jaxtheimer, Sydney (March 31, 2023). "Liberty University Board of Trustees appoints new president, chancellor". WSLS.