Jerry Prevo
Jerry Prevo at the memorial service for Don Young at Anchorage Baptist Temple on April 2, 2022
5th President of Liberty University
In office
August 10, 2020 – March 31, 2023
Preceded byJerry Falwell Jr.
Succeeded byDondi Costin
Personal details
Born
Jerry Lee Prevo

(1945-01-12) January 12, 1945 (age 79)
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.
SpouseCarol Sherwood
EducationBaptist Bible College (BA)
Hyles–Anderson College (DDiv)

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.

Early life and education

Prevo 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

For 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

  1. ^ Perala, Andrew (October 30, 1986). "No Middle Ground". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  2. ^ "Milan Jack Prevo". The Terre Haute Tribune. June 22, 1975. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-12-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ 12-14-1979 (The Journal Champion Volume 2, Issue 11)
  4. ^ Towns, Elmer (1975). "Humility Helped Them Grow". Christian Life.
  5. ^ "Episcopalians Rap 'Majority'". Daily Sitka Sentinel. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-08-10 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "The Rev. Jerry Prevo, Anchorage's loudest evangelical voice, is retiring after 47 years". Anchorage Daily News. 2019-05-06. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  7. ^ Svrluga, Susan. "Liberty University names acting president after Jerry Falwell Jr. placed on leave of absence". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  8. ^ "Board of Trustees | Liberty University". Board of Trustees. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  9. ^ Williamson, Jeff (2020-08-10). "Liberty University names Jerry Prevo as acting president". WSLS. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  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.
  11. ^ "Liberty University names Jerry Prevo of Anchorage acting leader with Falwell on leave". Anchorage Daily News. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  12. ^ Jaxtheimer, Sydney (March 31, 2023). "Liberty University Board of Trustees appoints new president, chancellor". WSLS.
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