Notable Alumni of Liberty University: Champions in Faith, Athletics, and Leadership
Liberty University (LU), a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, has, since its founding in 1971, produced a diverse array of alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. From sports and entertainment to politics and ministry, graduates of Liberty University have left their mark on the world. This article explores some of the university's most prominent alumni and their achievements.
A Legacy of Faith and Learning
Founded by Jerry Falwell Sr. and Elmer L. Towns, Liberty University stands as a beacon of conservative Christian education. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia, the university emphasizes a biblical worldview in its curriculum and campus life. Liberty University consists of 17 colleges, including the Helms School of Government and the Rawlings School of Divinity. The university's motto, "Knowledge Aflame," reflects its commitment to academic excellence and spiritual growth.
Notable Alumni in Music and Entertainment
Liberty University has fostered the talents of numerous individuals who have achieved recognition in the music industry. Several notable figures in the Christian music industry got their start while obtaining a college education from Liberty and have since become pioneers in their sphere.
TobyMac: Kevin Michael McKeehan, known as TobyMac, graduated from Liberty in 1988 with a degree in political science. While there, McKeehan met Kevin Max and Michael Tait, who shared his passion for music, and they formed the groundbreaking contemporary Christian band DC Talk. Pushing the limits of the Christian music world where rap and hip hop had no solid footing at the time, TobyMac has become a top name in contemporary Christian music. According to McKeehan, however, Dr. Jerry Falwell Sr. was supportive of his efforts to extend the message of Christianity to the rap and hip hop music genres.
Michael Tait: Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan in 1984 when he was in high school. Both Toby and Michael met Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and together they formed four-time Grammy winning band DC Talk, releasing five acclaimed studio albums. Following the group's entrance into hiatus in 2000, Tait had success in a solo career, founding a self-titled band that toured until 2007. Following his solo band's dissolution, Tait was the lead singer of Newsboys from 2009 to 2025.
Read also: Liberty University Fees
Meredith Andrews: Just before coming to Liberty in the early 2000s, Meredith Andrews felt a calling to spend her life using her musical gifts to serve God. During her time at Liberty, where she studied family and child development, Andrews served in what was then known as Campus Praise Band, a root of the current Liberty Worship Collective, and enjoyed leading worship among her peer group of college students.
Terry Fator: Terry Wayne Fator is an American ventriloquist, impressionist, stand-up comedian, and singer. He gained national recognition for his talent when he won the second season of America's Got Talent, which helped to boost his career.
Mark Lowry: Mark Alan Lowry is an American singer, comedian, minister and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing the song "Mary, Did You Know?" and being a member of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988 to 2001, and 2009 to 2013, along with Michael English, Guy Penrod, David Phelps and Bill Gaither.
Tiffany Espensen: Tiffany Espensen is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress, before becoming known for her teenaged roles, such as Piper in the 2011 Nickelodeon series Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures and Belinda in the 2014 Disney XD series Kirby Buckets. Espensen has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
Alumni in the World of Sports
Liberty University's athletic program, the Liberty Flames, has produced numerous athletes who have excelled at the collegiate and professional levels.
Read also: History of Liberty's Flames
Seth Curry: Seth Adham Curry is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for one year at Liberty University before transferring to Duke. He is the son of former NBA player Dell Curry and the younger brother of NBA player Stephen Curry. He currently ranks eighth in NBA history in career three-point field goal percentage.
Nick Foles: Nicholas Edward Foles is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. A member of six teams, he achieved his greatest success with the Philadelphia Eagles, leading the franchise to their first Super Bowl title.
Rashad Jennings: Rashad Andre Jennings is an American former professional football running back. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the Oakland Raiders and the New York Giants. Jennings played college football at Pittsburgh and Liberty.
Malik Willis: Malik Antonio Willis is an American professional football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and Liberty Flames, winning the 2020 Dudley Award with the latter. Willis was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft and traded to the Packers in 2024.
William Byron: William McComas Byron Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 24 Chevrolet ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports. He is the 2024 Daytona 500 winner.
Michael Andrew: Michael Charles Andrew is an American competitive swimmer and an Olympic gold medalist. He was the 2016 world champion in the 100 meter individual medley. At his first Olympic Games, the 2020 Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal and set a world record as part of the 4x100 meter medley relay, placed fourth in the 100 meter breaststroke, fourth in the 50 meter freestyle, and fifth in the 200 meter individual medley.
Samkon Gado: Samkon Kaltho Gado is a Nigerian-American otolaryngologist. He is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, and St. Louis Rams. He played college football at Liberty.
Sid Bream: Sidney Eugene Bream is an American former professional baseball first baseman. From 1983 through 1994, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1983-85), Pittsburgh Pirates (1985-90), Atlanta Braves (1991-93), and Houston Astros (1994). He is best remembered for his game-winning run scored in the 1992 National League Championship Series (NLCS) that sent the Braves to the World Series.
Jessie Lemonier: Jessie Nathaniel Lemonier was an American football linebacker. He played for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), and the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).
Leaders in Politics and Public Service
Liberty University has also produced a number of alumni who have entered the realm of politics and public service.
Jerry Falwell Jr.: Jerry Lamon Falwell Jr. is an American attorney, former academic administrator, and evangelical. Starting with his 2007 appointment upon the death of his father, televangelist and conservative activist Jerry Falwell, Falwell served as the president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, until resigning in August 2020 amid a sex scandal.
Bob Good: Robert George Good is an American politician. representative from Virginia's 5th congressional district from 2021 to 2025. Prior to his election to Congress, Good served as a member of the Board of Supervisors in Campbell County, Virginia, for three years. He also worked at his alma mater, Liberty University, and for Citi.
Tony Perkins: Anthony Richard Perkins is an American politician and Southern Baptist pastor, who has served as president of the Family Research Council since 2003. Previously, he was a police officer and television reporter. From 1996 to 2004, he served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
Randy Weber: Randy Weber is the U.S. representative for Texas's 14th congressional district.
Troy Nehls: Troy Nehls is the U.S. representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district. From 2013 to 2021, he served as the sheriff for Fort Bend County, Texas. Nehls is a member of the Republican Party.
Chuck Baldwin: Charles Obadiah Baldwin is an American right-wing politician, radio host, and founder-former Independent Baptist pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. As of 2024 he is leading pastor of Liberty Fellowship in Kalispell, Montana.
Other Notable Alumni
Shannon Bream: Shannon Noelle Bream is an American journalist and attorney who is a host of Fox News Sunday on Fox News. She is also chief legal correspondent for the channel.
Ed Stetzer: Edward John Stetzer is an American author, pastor, and Christian missiologist. He is Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University.
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