Oral Roberts University Board of Trustees Announces President’s Contract Extension Through 2033

Seated: ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson and Board of Trustees Chair Holly Moore
(from left to right) Chief Operating Officer Tim Philley, ORU First Lady Mrs. Lisa Wilson, 
Provost Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, and Chief Financial Officer Neal Stenzel

The University has extended the contract of President Dr. William M. Wilson

Tulsa, OK. – Oral Roberts University (ORU) Board of Trustees Chair Holly Moore officially announced that a contract extension for the University’s President, Dr. William M. Wilson, has been finalized, providing ORU stable leadership through 2033.  Moore pointed to Dr. Wilson’s accomplishments during his ten years leading ORU and the University’s vision for continued growth as motivating factors for the extension. 

Moore stated, “As the Board of Trustees spent time contemplating the future of ORU, we believed that asking Dr. Wilson to extend his contract was vitally important.  The President has provided visionary and strategic leadership for the past decade, and we have confidence that he will continue to lead the University with distinction.  His passion for the students impacts every decision he makes, and we are grateful for his heart for the next generation.  As a Trustee and also an alumna of ORU, I also want to express my personal appreciation to Dr. and Mrs. Wilson for their tireless efforts to serve the entire ORU community, and look forward to working with them in the years to come.” 

Since Dr. Wilson’s tenure as ORU’s president began in 2013, enrollment has reached unprecedented and historic numbers.  In the Fall of 2021, ORU achieved the largest year-over-year recorded percentage growth in over 25 years, and in the Spring of 2023, enrollment exceeded 6,000 students for the first time. As an international university, ORU has enrolled students from 150 nations in the last four years and, with its multicultural identity, has been ranked as one of the most diverse universities in America.

Dr. Wilson expressed his appreciation to the Board of Trustees, the faculty, staff, and students of ORU, saying, “I am privileged to serve the greatest University in the world. This past decade has been amazing, and I am excited for the decade ahead.  In higher education, the right combination of academic and administrative talent is essential for longevity and success.  ORU has that alignment, producing an environment that appeals to students from around the world. God has blessed us at ORU, and I am grateful for His continued help.” 

ORU has experienced one of the largest campus expansions in the University's history. During Dr. Wilson’s tenure, ORU opened the Global Learning Center, a re-engineered 54,000-square-foot television studio that features augmented/virtual reality learning and supports global instruction. He also spearheaded a campus improvement plan that included the contemporary $10 million apartment-style student housing Niko Njotorahardjo Hall. Dr. Wilson was responsible for the visionary purchase and transformation of a 100,000-square-foot venue into ORU’s Nursing and Engineering Complex and oversaw the completion of 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, one of the President’s successful efforts to expand ORU while remaining debt-free.    

Most recently, Phase I of the “Whole Leaders for the Whole World” campaign was completed, raising $77 million for scholarships, and four new additions, including a campus Welcome Center, Media Arts Center, the J.D. McKean Library, and the David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership.  Another $5 million was raised for the new Fenimore & Fisher College of Business, which includes a fully operational Capital Markets Trading Floor. In addition, $21 million has been raised for the Mike Carter Athletic Center and a substantial renovation of the Mabee Center Arena, including new blue seating, a spectacular concourse, and additional suites. 

Phase II of the “Whole Leaders for the Whole World” campaign is underway, raising $50 million for a new dining hall, residence halls (one each for men and women), EMR/Claudius renovations, Quest First Scholarships, and Quest International Scholarships.

Dr. Wilson represents ORU as the Global Chair for Empowered21 (E21), Chair of the historic Pentecostal World Fellowship, in leadership positions with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities, Chair of the Summit League President’s Council, and the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has authored several books, including Father Cry, A-Z Guide: Marriage Recovery, A-Z Guide: Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, The Parenthood Plan, The Exclusive Claims of Jesus Christ, Today’s Church: A Look at Yesterday’s Church to See Today’s Church More Clearly, Foundations of Faith, Fasting Forward, As the Waters Cover the Sea, (with Dr. Vinson Synan), Generation Z: Born for the Storm, and his latest work The Power of One.

A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Dr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Western Kentucky University and Master of Arts and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Dr. Wilson has also participated in numerous ongoing educational opportunities, including the Harvard Institute for University Presidents. He is an ordained Bishop with the Church of God, Cleveland, TN.

 

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 150 nations (from 2019 to 2023) 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.