Oral Roberts University Names Chandler Petrak Director of Spiritual Life and Student Experience

Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 10, 2026–Oral Roberts University (ORU) announces the appointment of Chandler Petrak as Director of Spiritual Life and Student Experience. In this role, Petrak will help foster a vibrant campus community by leading spiritual formation, campus engagement, student experience initiatives, and holistic student life programs that support ORU’s mission of educating the whole person—spirit, mind, and body. With a heart for students and a desire to create a fun, welcoming, and engaging campus experience, Petrak will help cultivate opportunities for students to connect, grow, and thrive throughout their ORU experience.

Petrak has served ORU as a student chaplain and, on staff, as men's chaplain coordinator, bringing years of experience in campus ministry, spiritual formation, and student development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Literature and a Master of Divinity, both from ORU, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. 

In his new role, Petrak will report to Lori Cook, Vice President of Student Life.  He will work closely with the campus community to strengthen ORU's Spirit-empowered approach to education. 

Vice President Cook stated, "I am excited to welcome Chandler Petrak to his new role as Director of Spiritual Life and Student Experience. His authentic care for students, strong relational leadership, and vision for a vibrant, engaging campus will make a lasting impact on our students."

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 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. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a “Leadership for Public Purpose” award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.