Project Description
CarterBaldwin Executive Search is honored to partner with Liberty University’s Board of Trustees in the unanimous appointment of Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dondi E. Costin, PhD, as the sixth president of the University. He will assume his duties ahead of the 2023-24 school year.
As President of Liberty University, Costin comes to the University’s leadership as a continuation of a lifetime dedicated to service. Most recently, Costin has served as president of Charleston Southern University (CSU). His celebrated tenure has been marked by academic and athletic achievement. Costin oversaw the construction of several new facilities and the substantial expansion of CSU’s academic programs, including South Carolina’s only four-year aviation program, multiple doctoral programs, and an engineering program within the university’s College of Science and Mathematics. Under his leadership, the University set fundraising records, significantly improved its overall rankings, and dramatically exceeded freshmen enrollment goals. On the heels of the best all- around year in CSU’s athletic history, Costin now serves as president of the Big South Conference. Last year, CSU was named the 2022 Business of the Year by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to CSU, Costin obtained the rank of Major General with the U.S. Air Force during 32 years of commissioned service, during which he represented the Liberty Baptist Fellowship as an endorsed chaplain. He completed his military career at the Pentagon as Air Force Chief of Chaplains, serving as senior pastor to more than 664,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces in the United States and overseas. A decorated combat veteran, Costin deployed in support of numerous contingency and humanitarian relief operations across the globe. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in operations research from The United States Air Force Academy, Costin holds five master’s degrees, a Doctor of Ministry degree, and a PhD in organizational leadership. He earned two of his five master’s degrees from Liberty University early in his military career.
The appointment by the trustees come after an extensive national search was conducted on behalf of the University’s Presidential Search Committee by CarterBaldwin Executive Search, one of America’s top executive recruiters.
To read Liberty University’s announcement of Dr. Costin as well as the appointment of Pastor Jonathan Falwell as Chancellor, click here.
About Liberty University
Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the world’s premier Christian university, one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the nation, and the largest university in Virginia. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 700 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. Over 600 programs are offered online. Utilizing its world-class infrastructure and Christian faculty, Liberty’s mission is to Train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrow’s world.
