Steve Pettit Elected Fifth President of Bob Jones University
May 9, 2014
GREENVILLE, SC – May 8, 2014 – Larry Jackson, chairman of the Bob Jones University Board of Trustees, announced today the election of Steve Pettit as the fifth president of Bob Jones University effective May 10.
Pettit replaces Dr. Stephen Jones who, for health reasons, announced in December he would end his nine-year tenure as BJU’s president at the end of Commencement May 9.
“I’m overwhelmed by the opportunity to serve as BJU’s president,” said Pettit. “For decades, I’ve appreciated the ministry of BJU and the Jones family to me and my family. I truly desire to honor BJU’s heritage and continue—by God’s grace—to fulfill its mission. I particularly want to emphasize the primacy of the local church, encourage relational discipleship among our students, faculty and staff, and continue the emphasis on academic excellence and living a godly life.”
“With his emphasis on discipleship and his extensive experience in working with college students, Steve is a natural choice for BJU president,” says Jackson. “He is committed to BJU’s biblical positions and educational quality, and we look forward to the leadership he will bring to the University.”
Pettit was raised in Columbia, South Carolina and earned his BS in Business Administration from The Citadel in 1978. He earned a MA in Pastoral Studies from BJU in 1980.
Prior to being elected BJU’s president, Pettit served as President of the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Association for 29 years. As president of the SPEA, he conducted over 800 campaigns throughout the United States and preached in over 21 countries. Additionally, Pettit serves as the national director for Cross Impact Ministries, a ministry which partners with local churches to minister on college campuses across the nation.
He has served for several years on the Bob Jones University Board of Trustees and also serves on the Board of the Central Africa Baptist College, Kitwe, Zambia.
Pettit is married to the former Terry Elkins of Denver, Colorado. They have four children: Rebecca, a filmmaker in Washington, D.C., Rachel, a paralegal in Washington, D.C., Stephen, a BJU senior and Michael, a rising high school senior.
