Wilson Named President of Oral Roberts University
January 31, 2013–Oral Roberts University has announced their next president as Dr. William Wilson, an ordained bishop in the Church of God and graduate of Pentecostal Theological Seminary.
The announcement was made at 3:00 CST on the ORU campus in front a chapel filled with students, faculty, staff and friends of the 50 year-old university located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On July 1, Wilson, 54, will become the fourth president in the school’s history, following Dr. Mark Rutland, who announced his resignation last year, Richard Roberts, and founder and namesake Oral Roberts.
“The presidential search committee, Board of Trustees and I are confident we have found the best candidate to lead ORU to a bright and successful future while remaining true to its founding vision and core values,” said ORU Board Chair Mart Green. “Chancellor Oral Roberts founded this university on big-thinking and innovation. In this day and age where technology and culture are constantly shifting, Dr. Wilson’s global vision, experience and relationships will be a catalyst for growth and transformation.”
Dr. Wilson is recognized as a global influencer with unwavering ethics and strong business acumen, who has a passion for building Spirit-empowered leaders to impact the world. He currently serves as Executive Director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal in Cleveland, Tenn. He has forged national ecumenical coalitions with more than 250 denominations and parachurch ministries through the Awakening America Alliance.
Dr. Wilson has also fostered unique global partnerships through Empowered 21—an initiative launched at ORU that brings together ministry leaders, scholars and next generation voices from the Spirit-empowered movement. Empowered 21 has expanded exponentially and today influences nations through 12 regional cabinets with significant ministry leaders. He served as the executive officer for the Azusa Street Centennial held in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2006, which drew more than 50,000 people from 112 nations.
“I am honored and humbled to have been elected to lead ORU at this exciting time in its history,” said Dr. Wilson. “I am committed to increasing global access to our excellent, whole-person education that has prepared over 38,000 alumni to be world-changers in business, medicine, arts, ministry and beyond.
“ORU is poised to globally engage students to hear God’s voice, excel in academics and go impact their world. We will continue to ‘make no little plans here,’” said Dr. Wilson. In his remarks after he was introduced today, Wilson said, “I am excited about the future of ORU. I am looking forward to working with you (students). You are a part of the greatest generation and God is going to use you to impact the world.”
A native of Owensboro, Ky., Dr. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Kentucky University in Secondary Education. He also holds a Master of Arts degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Wilson was selected as the result of a nine-month search process led by the ORU Presidential Search Committee made up of representatives from the ORU Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students. The Board utilized the expertise of CarterBaldwin Executive Search. More than 170 presidential prospects were nominated for consideration.
