10 Years of Transformative Leadership: ORU Celebrates President Dr. William M. Wilson’s Decade of Historic Leadership
Tulsa, OK. — Oral Roberts University (ORU) recently celebrated Dr. William M. Wilson’s
10th anniversary as the University’s fourth president. Since assuming the presidency
on June 1, 2013, Dr. Wilson’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation,
and global engagement has transformed and positioned ORU as a leader in higher education.
To mark this milestone, ORU hosted an anniversary event at which Tulsa Mayor G.T.
Bynum presented Dr. Wilson with a key to the city.
Mayor Bynum shared, “I am so grateful for the way ORU has led the work that has been
sown over decades in what is building the City of Tulsa of the 21st century. I'm also
very mindful, as someone who both loves history and has studied it, that the lifeblood
of institutions is leadership. Without strong leadership, institutions can fail very
quickly. But with great leadership and servant leadership like Dr. Wilson, it is
remarkable what institutions can achieve. I personally want to thank Dr. Wilson for
his unbelievable leadership over the last ten years.”
Dr. Wilson expressed his profound appreciation for the dedicated community who have helped ORU achieve historic levels of enrollment, advancement, and academic success. “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; in the years to come, our students will continue to change the world!”
During Dr. Wilson’s tenure, ORU has invested over $170 million in new buildings and renovations. The University opened four new buildings debt-free, funded in part by the University’s $50 million 50th Anniversary campaign. These buildings include:
- Global Learning Center, a re-engineered 54,000-square-foot technology hub
- Niko Njotorahardjo Hall, a $10 million apartment-style student residence hall
- Nursing and Engineering Complex, a 100,000-square-foot venue
- ONEOK Sports Complex, one of Tulsa’s top collegiate track and tennis facilities
Dr. Wilson also launched the “Whole Leaders for the Whole World” campaign, a funding initiative to support new construction and scholarships. 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:
- ORU Welcome Center (opened in September 2022)
- ORU’s E-Rena facility, an Esports venue for training, collaboration, and team development (opened in April 2022)
- Media Arts Center (currently under construction)
- J.D. McKean Library (currently under construction)
- A new dining facility
- New residence halls for men and women
- Student housing renovations
- $15 million in scholarships for international and first-generation students
- David and Barbara Green Centre for Global Leadership
Recently, ORU also 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 to renovating the Mabee Center and constructing the new Mike Carter Athletic Center, a 45,000-square-foot facility that houses basketball practice courts, administrative and coaches' offices, and a 10,000-square-foot indoor sports performance area.
With over four decades of executive leadership experience, Dr. Wilson is recognized globally for his unwavering ethics in leadership and as a champion for new generations of Spirit-empowered leaders. Through his unique ability to foster global partnerships, Dr. Wilson has been instrumental in uniting leaders from various cultures, ethnicities, and spheres of influence.
“The entire Board of Trustees is incredibly grateful for Dr. Wilson’s outstanding leadership over the past decade,” said Holly Moore, Board Chair. “The enrollment growth, campus expansion, and financial vitality seen during his time as President have been unprecedented and helped to position ORU for the future. As a visionary leader with a deep love and passion for the next generation, he is creating a framework and culture at ORU that develops whole leaders for the whole world.”
In addition to his presidency at ORU, Dr. Wilson serves as the Global Chair for Empowered21, an organization influencing the future of the global Spirit-empowered movement. Dr. Wilson also 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 is chair 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 has authored numerous books, including his most recent publication, “The Power of One.” In the book, he provides a clear path on how the re-personalization of the Great Commission
and a renewed focus on the potential of everyONE, is launching a new era of global evangelism. A sought-after Bible communicator,
Dr. Wilson hosts a weekly television program, “World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson,” which can be seen in more than 150 nations.
For more information on Dr. Wilson, please visit the President’s webpage, and to learn more about ORU, please visit www.oru.edu.
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.