Bluefield University Inaugurates New President
Bluefield University inaugurated a new president, Dr. Steven Peterson, during a special chapel service, October 16.
BU faculty, staff, students, alumni and trustees joined former Dr. Peterson co-workers in celebrating the new president. Among the dignitaries who participated in the program were former BU president Dr. David Olive, chair of the BU Board of Trustees Jack Reasor, Student Government Association president Landon Breeden, faculty president Dr. Henry Clary, Alumni Association president Zach Smith, former co-worker Dr. Jay Spencer, Baptist General Association of Virginia representative Rev. David Washburn, and partners from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Dixie Tooke-Rawlins and John Rocovich.
Keynote speaker for the day was Rev. Jonathan Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University and senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church.
“I’m proud to stand here today,” Rev. Falwell said. “When Steve texted me a few months ago and asked if I’d be able to come and be a part of this event today, I immediately wrote back ‘absolutely, I’m honored to do it.’ I do know that I was his second choice to stand here. I know if it was his preference he would much rather have my dad (Rev. Jerry Falwell, Sr.) because he loved my dad and my dad loved him.”
Dr. Peterson worked for Rev. Jerry Falwell, Sr., the founder of Liberty University. During his inaugural address, Rev. Jonathan Falwell spoke about the impact Dr. Peterson had on his life during that time. He specifically recounted an event shortly after his father’s death during the graveside service that Dr. Peterson left a lasting impression on him.
“There were thousands of people who gathered there in Lynchburg for the services,” Rev. Falwell recalled. “Afterwards, we had a private graveside service over on the campus of Liberty just outside of where my dad’s office had been and where Steve’s office had been. I happened to look across the graveside and I saw Steve standing over in the grass across the way. I saw Steve, and I saw tears. That meant a lot to me because it helped me remember the fact that my dad certainly impacted me, buy it was such a gift to know the impact my dad had on others. Steve gave me a gift that day because it taught me the kind of life that we are to live as followers of Jesus Christ, that we have a responsibility to impact others, to influence others, to connect with others, and to love others according to the scripture.”
Reasor and and Rev. Craig Stout, chair of the Presidential Search Committee, formally installed Dr. Peterson as the 10th president of Bluefield University. Dr. Olive, presented the new president with the presidential medallion.
“It is an honor for me to stand before you today,” Dr Peterson said. “This is not just a position for me. I assure you that it’s a calling, and I’m excited to take the helm of this institution, which has stood as a beacon of faith and learning in Southwest Virginia for over a century. My prayer is that I will continue in that same tradition of helping the next generation achieve their dreams and to do things they didn’t think possible before coming on to one of our campuses.”
Dr. Peterson said the inauguration was more than a day of celebration, but also a day of anticipation for what lies ahead.
“I’m grateful for your trust in me and the opportunity to lead this institution into the next chapter,” he said. “I’m committed to building on the foundation of Bluefield and carrying forward a spirit of innovation and a spirit of excellence. Today, we begin charting a path for Bluefield University’s future standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before.”
Dr. Peterson added that the responsibility of leading Bluefield is not his alone. He said it belongs to all invested in BU — faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters — who play a key role in shaping the institution’s future.
“We’re proud of the rich history and the countless individuals who have shaped this institution — their vision and their faith that brought us to this moment — but as we honor the past we can’t be content just to preserve it,” Dr. Peterson said. “We must build on it, enhancing what makes us unique, while embracing the new possibilities.”
Dr. Peterson said that BU’s future would include a continued commitment to faith and service. Faith, he said, would guide the institution’s decisions and give it purpose. Service, he added, would be woven into fabric of who BU is.
“As we embark on this exciting journey together, I invite each one of you in joining me in shaping this blueprint for the future,” he said. “It’s your ideas, your energy, and your passion that are essential to our success. We will certainly face some challenges, but I’m confident that together with God’s guidance we will overcome them and emerge stronger than we were before.”
Dr. Peterson also spoke directly to students, whom he called “the heart of the institution.” He told them his commitment to them was simple: to ensure that their experience at BU is transformative.
“You are the leaders and the change makers of tomorrow, and I look forward to walking this journey with you,” he told the students.
Dr. Peterson thanked the faculty and staff for their dedication to the university and its students. He encouraged alumni and friends to continue investing in Bluefield University, sharing not only wisdom, but also resources. He acknowledged the Harvey W. Peters Foundation and BU’s sister schools, who partner with Bluefield in seeking “not only to impact higher education, but also the Kingdom of Heaven. And, he thanked the Board of Trustees for its trust and confidence.
“I’m honored to lead this institution, and I will strive daily to fulfill the plans that we have made,” Dr. Peterson said. “We can build on Bluefield’s rich legacy, and we can chart a new course that honors the past while striving towards a bright future. May God bless each one of you and may God bless Bluefield University.”
As part of the inauguration program, Reasor spoke on behalf of the Board of Trustees. He commented on the Board’s responsibility in searching for a new president to find “a good fit for the position.”
“We wanted to find someone who was ready and prepared and truly believed that this was the calling of God for them at this time in their life,” Reasor said. “I would say to you this morning with great joy and great confidence, this Board of Trustees unanimously chose (Dr. Peterson), and we do have great confidence that we have found just the individual God was leading to us.”
Smith spoke about the essential role the Alumni Association plays in fostering a connection between the university and its graduates. He said the Alumni Association looks forward to working closely with Dr. Peterson to ensure that former students continue to engage with and support the institution.
“We are confident that with Dr. Peterson’s guidance those bonds will strengthen even further,” Smith said. “His commitment to the mission of Bluefield University and his vision for the future inspire confidence in what lies ahead not just for the students, but for generations to come.”
Spencer — who worked alongside Dr. Peterson at Houston Christian University, where Dr. Peterson launched the school’s first online undergraduate and graduate programs and served later as the vice president for adult and graduate studies — spoke about the principles that guide Dr. Peterson’s leadership skills, including “doing the routine things routinely well” and embracing the fact that “success is one percent idea and 99 percent execution.” Spencer also spoke about Dr. Peterson’s competitive nature.
“Steve hates to lose,” Spencer said. “So, to the Bluefield University Board of Trustees, the administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni, get ready to win because your new president hates to lose.”