| Jerry Falwell, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 17, 1962 Lynchburg, Virginia, United States |
| Occupation | Academic administrator, Chancellor - Liberty University |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
| Website | |
| http://www.falwell.com/ | |
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Jr (born June 17, 1962) is the chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, appointed in May 2007 shortly after his father's death in 2007.
Falwell attended private schools in the Lynchburg area, attending Lynchburg Christian Academy, where he graduated in 1980, and attended Liberty University, where he obtained his B.A. in Religious Studies in 1984. Falwell then attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he obtained his J.D. in 1987.
Falwell is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to practice law in Virginia, United States District Courts in both Eastern and Western districts of Virginia, the Fourth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Since 1987, he has served in private practice, being the General Counsel of his father's entities, serving on the Board of Trustees of Liberty University in 2000, and later serving Vice Chancellor from 2003 until his father's death, and as Chancellor since then.
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Under Falwell's leadership, Liberty University has grown from about 37,000 students to more than 60,000 students, with more than 50,000 of them taking courses through Liberty University Online. More than 12,000 students are currently enrolled in course on campus.[1]
In December 2010, Falwell helped Liberty University secure $120 million in tax-exempt facilities bonds after the school received a AA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s. The school plans to use the bonds for facilities upgrades, a new health sciences building, a visitor’s center and to pay for capital projects.[2]
On February 22, 2010, Barry Lynn, the director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, alleged that Falwell and Liberty University violated their non-profit status and used university resources in a Virginia House of Delegates (State Legislature) race in the 2009 elections.[3]
In a letter to the IRS, Americans United says Falwell and other Liberty officials used the official school newspaper, Liberty Champion, to repeatedly attack incumbent Shannon Valentine and endorse her opponent, Scott Garrett. Garrett won the election by about 200 votes after returns came in from a precinct heavily populated by Liberty students.
Liberty University denied that it violated any IRS election laws. The IRS rejected the complaint filed against Liberty University. Liberty University issued a public statement accusing Barry Lynn and Americans United for Separation of Church and State of filing many similar frivolous complaints against politically conservative churches and nonprofit organizations while ignoring blatant violations committed by other liberal organizations. Liberty University then filed a detailed complaint with the IRS against Americans United for Separation of Church and State alleging that the organization violated the IRS election laws by filing harassing complaints only against politically conservative groups.[4]
Shortly after obtaining his law degree, he married Becki Tilley of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They have three children: Jerry III (known as Trey), Charles Wesley, and Caroline Grace. They live in Bedford County, Virginia.
He is also the brother of Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor at the Thomas Road Baptist Church.