Dr. Wilson’s Leadership
Under Dr. Wilson’s leadership, ORU has reached historic enrollment and expanded its global reach.
Fourth President of ORUDr. William M. Wilson
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.
Take a look at the grand opening of the new Daystar Dining and Residence Halls on
the ORU campus.
ORU Celebrates Grand Opening of Daystar Dining and Residence Halls
- Author of over 10 books, including his latest, Empowered to Lead.
- ORU Enrollment reached unprecedented and historic numbers.
- Students enrolled from over 176 nations in the last seven 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.
In this book, Dr. Billy Wilson equips you to lead with integrity, courage, and vision—impacting
the world through faith, wisdom, and Spirit-empowered leadership.
Empowered to Lead
Dr. William M. Wilson
When a person has a VISION, they are being positioned to change the world.
Articles written by Dr. William Wilson.
In the News
President Wilson’s Video Messages
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.
World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson
An interview with Oral Roberts University President Billy Wilson.Interviews with President Wilson
Discipling Generation Z
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:
Books & Resources by Dr. Wilson
Over 10 Years of Transformative 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
ORU Celebrates President Dr. William M. Wilson’s Decade of Historic Leadership
Dr. William M. Wilson becomes the fourth President of Oral Roberts University Dr. William M. Wilson’s inauguration held on September 20, 2013 Empowered21 Global Congress Jerusalem Task Force on the Globalization of ORU Launch of 50th Anniversary Campaign 50th Anniversary of Oral Roberts University London 2016 Empowered21 Pentecost Celebration Global Learning Center opens Completion of Phase I of the 50th Anniversary Campaign ONEOK Sports Complex opens ORU Sports Park opens Christ's Chapel receives new window renovation Dr. William M. Wilson at the Vatican, meeting Pope Francis at Celebration of 50 years
of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal GodTV airs World Impact with Billy Wilson, increasing potential reach to nearly 1 billion people worldwide Titan Supercomputer launches Niko Njotorahardjo Hall opens Dr. Wilson elected Chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship opens Completion of Phase II of the 50th Anniversary Campaign – the “Freedom Campaign” Nursing & Engineering Complex (NEC) opens John & Cheryl Clerico Golf Complex (in the NEC) opens
Timeline: 2013 to 2019
June 2013
September 2013
May 2015
June 2013
February 2015
October 2015
May 2016
January 2017
April 2017
October 2017
October 2018
March 2017
June 2017
2017
December 2018
August 2019
August 2019
November 2019
August 2019
November 2019
November 2019
Timeline: 2020 to Today
ORU Worship releases first album in 8 years Stanley White High-Performance Computing Lab opens Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranks ORU as #5 in the nation for Student
Engagement2020
June 2020
August 2020
September 2020
ORU Men’s Basketball goes to the Sweet Sixteen Stanley White Foundation i4 Digital Enterprise Lab opens Groundbreaking for the JD McKean Library Groundbreaking for the Media Arts Center Mabee Center renovations Groundbreaking for the Mike Carter Athletic Center2021
March 2021
August 2021
October 2021
November 2021
November 2021
November 2021
E-Rena E-Sports Venue opens Conclusion of Whole Leaders for the Whole World Campaign Phase I Fenimore & Fisher College of Business ORU Welcome Center opens Dr. Wilson named among “Most Influential Oklahomans” 2022 by The Journal Record2022
April 2022
May 2022
September 2022
September 2022
December 2022
Launch of Whole Leaders for the Whole World Campaign, Phase II (new dining and dorm
complex pictured below) Dr. William M. Wilson releases his latest book “The Power of One” Empowered21 Amsterdam2023 EveryONE Event Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees Announces President’s Contract Extension
Through 2033 J.D. McKean Library opens ORU experiences 15th consecutive year of enrollment growth ORU is ranked #1 Best Student Life in Oklahoma by Niche ORU Career outcomes rate of 99.87% alumni in a job or graduate school within 6 months
of graduation2023
January 2023
May 2023
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
August 2023
September 2023
November 2023
Biological Sciences Center opens Release of Dr. Wilson's latest book Fasting Forward, Revised and Updated Edition ORU Celebrates historic 2024 class with 925 degree candidates Empowered21 EveryONE Asia Event ORU Welcomes Largest Incoming Class in Its History Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center opens2024
January 2024
2024
May 2024
July 2024
August 2024
September 2024
ORU’s Historic Enrollment Surpasses 7,000 Panera Bread Opens ORU Celebrates Largest Graduating Class in History 27th Pentecostal World Conference in Helsinki, Finland Learning Resources Center Renovation featuring Barnes & Noble College, ORU One Stop,
Ethne International Beverage Shoppe, and Dolce Sweet Shoppe ORU Celebrates Another Record-Breaking Freshman Class2025
February 2025
March 2025
May 2025
June 2025
August 2025
September 2025
ORU achieves historic enrollment growth with Spring enrollment of 5,720, a 4.9% increase,
compared to Spring 2025 of 5,453 Inaugural meeting of the Empowered21 Worship Collective at Oral Roberts University Naming of the Regent Global Learning Center Empowered21 EveryONE LATAM event Renovations to EMR and Claudius Residence Halls Grand Opening of Daystar Dining and Residence Halls2026
February 2026
February 2026
March 2026
May 2026
August 2026
August 2026
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.
Dr. William M. Wilson
President, Oral Roberts University