Liberty names deans for Schools of Divinity, Music, and Aeronautics

Liberty University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Scott Hicks announced today that three interim deans have officially been named deans: Dr. Stephen Müller, School of Music; Dr. Troy Temple, John W. Rawlings School of Divinity; and Dr. Rick Roof, School of Aeronautics.

“Each of these gentlemen have done a phenomenal job serving our university and have a passion for serving our students and seeing Christ lived out in their professions and throughout their lives,” Hicks said. “They have each proven to be great leaders in their own right.”

Müller holds the Master of Music, the Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Worship, and is ABD toward the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education at UNC Greensboro. Müller spent more than 25 years as a music educator in schools and churches in Texas, Washington State, and California before joining the School of Music faculty in the fall of 2013.

Under Müller’s leadership, the undergraduate music education degree program has more than tripled in enrollment, with music education graduates obtaining a near 100% job placement rate. Students have the opportunity to receive state licensure for elementary and secondary music jobs. Müller was named the interim dean in January 2020.

Temple began his academic career 26 years ago at Liberty, serving as a GSA in the department of Church Ministries, where he learned to become an innovator and a mentor to hundreds of Christian leaders. He holds the B.S. in Church Ministries and the M.A. in Religious Studies from Liberty, as well as the Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He served as a faculty member at Liberty from 1996-99. He then served at Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in various faculty roles, eventually becoming the Associate Dean for Master’s Studies, Associate Professor of Youth & Family Ministry, and Executive Director of the International Center for Youth & Family Ministry.

Temple was named the interim dean in December 2019, filling the position after the program’s founding dean, Dr. Ed Hindson, retired.

Temple’s strong commitment to the local church is evidenced by his faithful involvement in local church ministry and leadership. For over 28 years, he has served as a pastor, trainer, and speaker in addition to his academic responsibilities. From 2004-18, he served as a trainer and board member with Youth Ministry International, contributing to the establishment of youth ministry training programs at seminaries in Africa, Mexico, Ukraine, Nepal, and several countries in East Asia. He also continues to serve as a seminar presenter with HomeWard, an organization founded to strengthen marriages and equip parents to raise families who love God and serve His mission.

Roof brings a vast amount of industry and education experience to the School of Aeronautics. After serving nine years in the Air Force as an avionics technician and operations researcher, Roof spent 20 years in senior positions in information technology, manufacturing, and publishing. He led an internet start-up company and was president and CEO of a specialized air carrier.

Roof’s professional flying began with his role as Director of Flight Operations-ISR for Dynamic Aviation, where he also led their leadership and organizational development program. He then served as dean of students and chair of the Leadership and Justice program at San Diego Christian College. He has served at Liberty University since 2012 as an online adjunct and instructional mentor for the School of Business, School of Engineering, and School of Aeronautics. Most recently, Roof served as online chair for Liberty’s School of Aeronautics before becoming the interim dean in July 2019.