Bequest from late history professor Dr. Mark Steinhoff creates opportunities for history to come to life at Liberty

Nearly three years after his passing, the memory and influence of longtime history professor Dr. Mark Steinhoff (1945-2021) continues to be felt at Liberty University, and now his bequest to the Department of History will further his legacy of supporting students and faculty to engage with history in new and exciting ways.

An Army veteran of the Vietnam War, Steinhoff was a stalwart in Liberty’s History Department from 1977 to 2011, teaching a broad range of classes and specializing as a medievalist. “Steiny,” as he was affectionately known, gained a reputation for “making history come alive” by dressing up in the applicable attire for lectures. He also served as the sponsor of the school’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society, for over two decades, regularly hosting student events in his home.

“Dr. Mark Steinhoff’s academic prowess, pedagogical creativity, and love for Christ was obvious to anyone who knew him,” said Dr. Samuel Smith, chair of the Department of History. “Simply put, he was a Champion for Christ. We in the History Department treasure his memory and are humbled by his generous bequeathal. The scholarships and projects from this gift will benefit many for years to come. His ministry lives on.”

Steinhoff retired from teaching in 2011, but he remained a committed scholar and was diligently working on a memoir of his intellectual and faith journey.

The bequest of over $900,000 was given to the History Department for the creation of the John and Blanche Steinhoff Memorial Fund, named after his parents. The fund will provide for new department projects and activities as well as four scholarships annually — two $5,000 scholarships for graduate students and two $2,500 scholarships for undergraduates — for full-time residential history students with financial needs.

“Dr. Steinhoff loved students, and they loved him in return,” said Dr. Roger Schultz, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “He worked at Liberty during some lean years, and with his bequest, he wanted to make sure that students never lacked for resources in their pursuit of an excellent Christian education.”

“Mark frequently talked about how he wanted to help students continue their education and to give them experiences that are not typically part of the academic history budget,” added Donna Davis Donald, director of public history Initiatives. “By leaving this bequest specifically to the history department, he ensured that students of history would benefit the most. His gift will continue to affect students’ lives through scholarship and experiential learning for decades to come. He was a devoted follower of Christ, a man of deep and sincere faith which permeated everything in his life, including his scholarship, his teaching, and his influence on those around him.”

The fund has already facilitated the purchase of a World War II field organ that is currently displayed in the Chaplains Museum, located on the terrace level of the Jerry Falwell Library. Students taking a public history course this semester will authenticate it, research its function and use, catalog it with a full description and classification, document it with photos, and interpret it for the public by creating an exhibit.

On Friday, Sept. 6, a banquet was held in the Montview Alumni Ballroom to remember Steinhoff and formally present the exciting opportunities brought about by his bequest. The event was attended by Steinhoff’s former colleagues and students, along with current faculty and staff and the augural recipients of the Steinhoff Memorial Fund Scholarships. Another guest was Dr. J. Gordon Henry, who served at Liberty in its early years as the chairperson for the Division of Education and Psychology, as academic dean, and later the first Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The scholarship recipients are two Master of Arts in History students, Benjamin Grist and Christopher Dykes, and two juniors studying history, Wyatt Golden and Nathan Estrada. Grist, Dykes, and Golden were present at the banquet, as Estrada was away from campus as a member of the Navy Reserves.

A permanent display case honoring Steinhoff is available to view in the History Department’s office on the fourth floor of DeMoss Hall and includes photos, a letter from the 1970s inviting him to teach at Liberty, and other memorabilia from his life and career.