President Wilson
President William M. Wilson began his tenure as Oral Roberts University’s fourth president in June 2013. Dr. Wilson has over four decades of executive leadership experience and is recognized globally for his unwavering ethics in leadership and as a champion for new generations of Spirit-empowered leaders.
As the president, Dr. Wilson is leading the mission to develop Holy Spirit-empowered leaders through whole person education to impact the world.
For the 16th consecutive year, Oral Roberts University (ORU) has once again achieved
record enrollment growth, with the 2024 Fall Census reporting an all-time high of
5,936 students, a 10.5% increase from last year. ORU Celebrates 16 Years of Consecutive Enrollment Growth
Dr. Wilson’s Leadership
- Author of over 10 books, including his latest The Power of One.
- ORU Enrollment reached unprecedented and historic numbers.
- Students enrolled from over 160 nations in the last five years.
- Fosters global partnerships with leaders from various cultures, ethnicities, and spheres of influence.
- Dr. Wilson serves as the Global Chair for Empowered21 (E21), an organization influencing the future of the global Spirit-empowered movement.
- Dr. Wilson also serves as Chair of the historic Pentecostal World Fellowship, a cooperative body of Pentecostal churches and groups worldwide of approved standing.
Fasting Forward
In Fasting Forward, Dr. Billy Wilson shares the importance of fasting and how Christ- followers can advance their spiritual lives through practicing this ancient discipline.
"When a person has a VISION, they are being positioned to change the world."
In the News
Articles written by Dr. William Wilson
- Why Generation Z Will be the Most Influential Generation
- The Storms That Are Necessary to Lift Us Higher
- 5 Strengths Generation Z Needs to Learn from You
- Go on the Offensive: Conditions Will Never Be Perfect for Serving Jesus Christ
- The Valley of Decision Is Real
- Here I am, Send me Anyway
- Making Your Stand in an Evil World
- "God Is Good, God Is Great”—What Does This Really Mean?
President Wilson's Video Messages
World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson
A sought-after Bible communicator, his weekly television program, "World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson," inspires and empowers viewers from a biblical worldview and can presently be seen in over 150 nations in multiple languages.
Visit SiteInterviews with President Wilson
books & resources by Dr. Wilson
Books by Dr. William Wilson are available for purchase at drbillywilsonbooks.com. Select e-books are also available as free downloads at worldimpact.tv. Some available titles include:
- Fasting Forward
- The Power of ONE
- Generation Z: Born for the Storm
- As the Waters Cover the Sea, (with Dr. Vinson Synan)
- Foundations of Faith
- Father Cry
- The A-Z Guide to Sexual Intimacy (e-book)
- The A-Z Guide to Marriage Recovery (e-book)
- The Parenthood Plan (e-book)
- The Exclusive Claims of Jesus Christ (e-book)
- Today's Church: A Look at Yesterday's Church to See Today's Church More Clearly (e-book)
Over 10 Years of Transformative Leadership
ORU Celebrates President Dr. William M. Wilson’s Decade of Historic Leadership
“The past ten years have been an extraordinary journey and launched the beginning of ORU’s global expansion. I am deeply humbled and grateful for all of those who have contributed their gifts, time, and talent to ORU. This University is unlike any other university, with the best faculty in the world and staff who serve our students unselfishly. Our students come from all 50 states and around the world, drawn to our academic excellence and desiring to develop as whole leaders. In the last ten years, ORU has made history and in the years to come, our students will continue to change the world!”
— President Dr. William M. Wilson
2013 - 2015
June 2013
Dr. William M. Wilson becomes the fourth President of Oral Roberts University
September 2013
Dr. William M. Wilson’s inauguration held on September 20, 2013
May 2015
Empowered21 Global Congress Jerusalem
June 2013
Task Force on the Globalization of ORU
February 2015
Launch of 50th Anniversary Campaign
October 2015
50th Anniversary of Oral Roberts University
2016 - 2018
May 2016
London 2016 Empowered21 Pentecost Celebration
January 2017
Global Learning Center opens
April 2017
Completion of Phase I of the 50th Anniversary Campaign
October 2017
ONEOK Sports Complex opens
October 2018
ORU Sports Park opens
March 2017
Christ's Chapel receives new window renovation
June 2017
Dr. William M. Wilson at the Vatican, meeting Pope Francis at Celebration of 50 years of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal
2017
GodTV airs World Impact with Billy Wilson, increasing potential reach to nearly 1 billion people worldwide
December 2018
Titan Supercomputer launches
2019
August 2019
Niko Njotorahardjo Hall opens
August 2019
Dr. Wilson elected Chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship
November 2019
Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship opens
August 2019
Completion of Phase II of the 50th Anniversary Campaign – the “Freedom Campaign”
November 2019
Nursing & Engineering Complex (NEC) opens
November 2019
John & Cheryl Clerico Golf Complex (in the NEC) opens
2020
June 2020
ORU Worship releases first album in 8 years
August 2020
Stanley White High-Performance Computing Lab opens
September 2020
Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranks ORU as #5 in the nation for Student Engagement
2021
March 2021
ORU Men’s Basketball goes to the Sweet Sixteen
October 2021
Groundbreaking for the JD McKean Library
November 2021
Groundbreaking for the Media Arts Center
August 2021
Stanley White Foundation i4 Digital Enterprise Lab opens
November 2021
Mabee Center renovations
November 2021
Groundbreaking for the Mike Carter Athletic Center
2022
April 2022
E-Rena E-Sports Venue opens
September 2022
Fenimore & Fisher College of Business
December 2022
Dr. Wilson named among “Most Influential Oklahomans” 2022 by The Journal Record
May 2022
Conclusion of Whole Leaders for the Whole World Campaign Phase I
September 2022
ORU Welcome Center opens
2023
January 2023
Launch of Whole Leaders for the Whole World Campaign, Phase II (new dining and dorm complex pictured below)
June 2023
Empowered21 Amsterdam2023 EveryONE Event
July 2023
Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees Announces President’s Contract Extension Through 2033
August 2023
J.D. McKean Library opens
August 2023
ORU experiences 15th consecutive year of enrollment growth
September 2023
ORU is ranked #1 Best Student Life in Oklahoma by Niche
November 2023
ORU Career outcomes rate of 99.87% alumni in a job or graduate school within 6 months of graduation
2024
January 2024
Biological Sciences Center opens
Release of Dr. Wilson's latest book Fasting Forward, Revised and Updated Edition
May 2024
ORU Celebrates historic 2024 class with 925 degree candidates
July 2024
Empowered21 EveryONE Asia Event
August 2024
ORU Welcomes Largest Incoming Class in Its History
September 2024
Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center opens
November 2024
ORU celebrates expansion of newly named Tandy Computing and Mathematics Labs and Drone Arena
November 2024
Groundbreaking for new dining hall, residence halls, and International Commons and Amphitheatre
ORU has made numerous commitments, including:
◈ Reaching More International Students ◈
◈ Excelling in Our Use of Technology ◈
◈ Improving Our Facilities ◈
◈ Increasing Our Program Offerings ◈
◈ Recruiting Exceptional Talent for Faculty and Staff Positions ◈
◈ Creating a Fun and Uplifting Environment on Campus ◈
◈ Embracing a Strong Spiritual Ethos for Our Students ◈
"We give God the glory for His blessing over the last 15 years. We do not take this for granted. We know that He is the one who provides the increase.... We are currently in a spiritual, academic, and institutional revival at ORU, and we are grateful to God for His favor.”
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