ORU Announces the Appointment of New Board of Trustees Chair and New Members
Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 21, 2025. — During the Spring Board meeting held from April 15 to 17, on its campus, Oral Roberts University (ORU) announced the appointment of a new board chair, and five new members to its Board of Trustees. The newly selected Board Chair is Pastor Joe Dobbins, who leads Twin Rivers Church in St. Louis, Missouri. The new trustees are Joshua Abreu, Kathleen Cooke, Bruce Deel, Clifton Taulbert, and Brent Van Norman.
President Dr. William M. Wilson shared, “I am very excited to welcome the new class of Board of Trustees members to the ORU family. These leaders are an exceptional group of men and women who will bring their influence and giftedness to serve the future of our institution. I am also especially thankful that the Board has chosen Pastor Joe Dobbins as our new Board Chair. Joe is a highly respected leader and Kingdom strategist. His wisdom, gravitas, shepherd’s heart, and keen insights will serve ORU well during this season of growth and expansion. I look forward to working with him and all of our Board as we continue to develop Whole Leaders for the Whole World.”
Dobbins, who was selected to the Board of Trustees in April of 2023, succeeds Holly
Moore in the role of Board Chair. "I am profoundly honored and humbled to be chosen
as the new Chair for the Board of Trustees at Oral Roberts University,” stated Dobbins.
“This University is a guiding light of faith, academic excellence, and innovation,
shaping leaders who make a difference in the world. Together with my fellow trustees,
we will strive to advance the values and vision that have made ORU a transformative
force in higher education. I believe our collective efforts will continue to inspire
and empower students to fulfill their God-given potential and impact the world for
Christ."
ORU Board of Trustees Class of 2034
Joshua Abreu is a pastor, leader in the financial industry, and consultant from Asunción, Paraguay,
passionately dedicated to advancing innovation in the financial sector and fostering
spiritual growth.
Joshua has played a pivotal role in Paraguay’s financial sector, serving for over six years as President of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Paraguay, where he led groundbreaking initiatives to modernize financial markets, promote transparency, and drive investment. During this time, he also presided over the Instituto Iberoamericano del Mercado de Valores, fostering collaboration and regulatory integration across capital markets in Ibero-America. His expertise and leadership have made him a sought-after speaker at global forums, including events hosted by The Economist, where he provides insights on financial innovation and economic growth.
In addition to his work in finance, Joshua serves as pastor at Centro Familiar de Adoración, Paraguay’s largest evangelical church, founded by his father.
Joshua’s academic achievements include an MBA with distinction from Oxford University and a summa cum laude Bachelor of Science in Finance from Oral Roberts University. His time at ORU helped shape his holistic approach to leadership, integrating excellence in professional endeavors with a heart for ministry and service.
Kathleen Cooke is an award-winning producer, actor, international speaker, writer, and co-founder
of the multi-award-winning media production company Cooke Media Group and the nonprofit
The Influence Lab. She is the Founder and Global Director of Influence Women, an initiative
of The Influence Lab, with multiple chapter groups in U.S. cities and one online international
chapter offering career development and support to women involved in media and entertainment.
Kathleen is the author of Hope 4 Today: Stay Connected to God in a Distracted Culture and has appeared on national and international radio, podcasts, and television shows, with articles published in numerous leading magazines regularly. Kathleen has been an adjunct professor at Biola University and Asbury University and has served on the National Salvation Army, Courage for Life, 4WordWomen, and Hollywood Prayer Network boards. She was awarded a U.S. National Congressional Award in 2022 and a State of Tennessee Award of Distinction in 2025 for leadership.
Bruce Deel is the Founder and CEO of City of Refuge, an Atlanta-based non-profit working to bring
light, hope, and transformation to those living on the margin. He is also the founder
of MOST, Men Opposing Sex Trafficking, an organization supporting anti-trafficking
efforts in 3 areas: Prevention, Interdiction, and Recovery.
City of Refuge provides housing, education, medical, dental, vision, and mental health care as well as vocational training for those leaving homelessness, returning from incarceration, or overcoming addiction. In addition, the City of Refuge offers an array of support services for survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking.
Bruce is the author of Trust First and serves as a speaker and consultant to corporate and non-profit organizations around the country. He has been featured as a TEDx Speaker and is listed twice in the Guinness Book of World Records for participating in the Longest Consecutive Softball Game, 121 hours, as well as the Longest Consecutive Basketball game, both of which raised funds and awareness to fight sex trafficking. He was named Alumnus of the Year for 2024 by his alma mater, Lee University.
Clifton Taulbert is an award-winning author, a Time Magazine-recognized entrepreneur, an educator,
and the CEO of two different companies. Taulbert is the founder of The Freemount
Corporation, an international human capital consultancy, and the President & CEO of
ROOTS JAVA COFFEE an African American owned national coffee supply company. Taulbert
is recognized and embraced around the world, from South Africa to Australia.
Taulbert has written fourteen books. His first book, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, became an international bestseller and a major motion picture. The United States Government selected the book as a gift for Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison in 1990. His most recent book, The Invitation, was chosen by the Architect of the United States Capitol as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He produced a major motion picture and served as a consultant on several documentaries: Jews in the Delta and the Emmy-award winning Boomtown: An American Journey, which details the birth of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2018, Taulbert was asked by the University of Utah to open their 2018 Fulbright Scholars Innovation Conference, where he spoke to one hundred and twenty scholars from around the world. Taulbert’s address, “The Revival of the Inquisitive Mind,” was widely enjoyed at the U.S. State Department-sponsored conference.
Taulbert graduated valedictorian of his Mississippi high school class and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He has previously served as a Trustee for the University of Tulsa, the Oklahoma Foundation of Excellence, and the Tulsa Historical Society. In 2017, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, President of the American Foreign Service Association, presented Taulbert with the 2017 Citizen Diplomat Award, the highest honor given by Global Ties U.S. He was inducted into the Enlisted Airman Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the 27th NAACP Image Award for Literature. He presently serves as a Trustee for the Tulsa Library Trust, the Board of Reference at Oral Roberts University, the Eudora Welty Advisory Board, the Anne Kathryn Sickle Cell Fund, and the Indian Nation Council of Boy Scouts.
Brent VanNorman graduated from Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, with majors in Accounting
and Computer Science. He was recognized as the Outstanding Accounting Graduate. Following
graduation, he was a Senior Manager with the international CPA firm of Crowe Horwath,
where he oversaw large consulting projects in the firm’s Systems Consulting Group.
Brent then attended seminary and planted a church in Holland, Michigan, pastoring
the church for nearly 10 years. Brent next received a law degree from Regent University
School of Law and was recognized as the Outstanding Law School Graduate in addition
to being Editor-in-Chief of the school’s law review. Following law school, he served
for 13 years as a key member of the Intellectual Property and Litigation Team for
the international law firm of Hunton Andrews & Kurth. Brent left the law firm to join
TriLinc Global, an impact investing firm, where he served as President. He remains
on the board of TriLinc. He was recently elected Vice Chair of the Republican Party
of Tulsa County. Brent is on the Elder Board at their church, Hope Fellowship.
Please click here for a complete list of ORU’s Board of Trustees.
UNIVERSITY BRIEF
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 years 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 165 nations in the last 5 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society.
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.
