The Journal Record Names ORU President Dr. William Wilson to List of Most Influential Oklahomans

Tulsa, Okla.— Oral Roberts University (ORU) President Dr. William M. Wilson has been named one of The Journal Record’s Most Influential Oklahomans for 2022. This recognition honors leaders in Oklahoma, “whose efforts, decisions, and leadership affected people, actions or events in our cities, state and beyond.” 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. 

“I am very grateful for this recognition,” said Dr. Wilson, “but it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible people who support and love our University. ORU is a global leader in higher education, and with our new construction, we’re expanding our campus to support the next generation of Spirit-empowered leaders. ORU’s mission continues to attract students from around the world, providing historic enrollment. While the past ten years have been amazing for ORU, we’ve already planned ahead, and the next phase of our growth is in place.” 

As president of ORU, Dr. Wilson remains focused on the University’s mission to develop Spirit-empowered leaders to impact the world. Since Dr. Wilson assumed office in 2013, enrollment has grown continuously, and in Fall 2022, ORU welcomed over 5,000 students, its largest enrollment ever. 

During Dr. Wilson’s tenure, ORU has opened several new facilities, including:  

• the Global Learning Center, a 54,000-square-foot technology hub,  
• the Niko Njotorahardjo Hall, a $10 million apartment-style residence hall,  
• the Nursing and Engineering Complex, a 100,000 square-foot venue, and  
• the ONEOK Sports Complex, one of Tulsa’s top collegiate track and tennis facilities.

These improvements were funded in part by the University’s $50 million 50th Anniversary campaign, which allowed ORU to expand its campus debt-free. Most recently, President Wilson launched the “Whole Leaders for the Whole World” campaign in two phases. Phase I recently surpassed the $77 million mark, and Phase II will bring an additional $50 million to the University. 

Phases I and II include:

• the Welcome Center (opened in September 2022),
• the Media Arts Center (under construction),
• the J.D. McKean Library (under construction),
• the new dining facility,
• the new residence halls for men and women,
• the renovation of two of the largest and oldest dorms on campus, 
• $15 million in scholarships for international and first-generation students,
• the David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership, and
• ORU’s E-Rena facility, an Esports venue for training, collaboration, and team development (opened in April 2022).

Recently, ORU opened the Fenimore & Fisher College of Business, which includes a fully-operational Capital Market Trading Floor, advanced learning space design, faculty offices, and dedicated collaborative workrooms. Additionally, $21 million was committed for the Mike Carter Athletic Center (opening in early 2023) and the completed substantial renovation of the Mabee Center arena, which includes new seating, an improved concourse, and expanded hospitality suites. 

Dr. Wilson serves as the Global Chair for Empowered21 and holds leadership positions with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, the American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Tulsa Regional Chamber. Dr. Wilson serves as chairman of the historic Pentecostal World Fellowship, which recently concluded the triennial Pentecostal World Conference in Seoul, Korea, attended by more than 40,000 people in person and 100,000 online.

Dr. Wilson’s newly published book, “Generation Z: Born for the Storm,” illuminates this generation’s qualities as its members come of age. A sought-after Bible communicator, Dr. Wilson has a weekly television program, “World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson,” which can be seen in more than 150 nations.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Wilson at an ORU commencement ceremony

 

For more information on Dr. Wilson, please visit the ORU Webpage. 

ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY 

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with over a decade of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 142 nations (from 2019 to 2022) to be whole leaders for the whole world. 

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #4 university in the nation for student engagement. This ranking is based upon faculty interactions, collaborative learning, critical thinking, real-world applications of student learning, the extent to which classes challenge students, and whether students would recommend a university to others. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America. 

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as: 

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in Most International Students
• #3 in Best Value
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.