ORU Names William ‘Billy’ Wilson President
RIBBON CUTTING: On Feb. 1, ORU students, faculty, staff and alumni celebrated the completion of the Armand Hammer Alumni-Student Center. The 28,000-square-foot building is the first major building to be constructed on the Oral Roberts University campus in more than 30 years. “We raised money for the building and then built the best building we could with the money we had,” says current President Mark Rutland, middle. “We came in on time and under budget with no debt.”
Dr. William “Billy” Wilson will become the fourth president for Oral Roberts University. Wilson, 54, will begin his tenure July 1.
“Chancellor Oral Roberts founded this university on big-thinking and innovation,” says Board Chair Mart Green. “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.”
Wilson is recognized as a global influencer with strong ethics and 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.
He has also fostered unique global partnerships through Empowered 21 — an initiative launched at 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.
A native of Owensboro, Ky., 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.
He was selected as the result of a nine-month search process led by the Presidential Search Committee made up of representatives from the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and students.
“I am honored and humbled to have been elected to lead at this exciting time in its history,” says 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.”
Oral Roberts University was founded in 1963 and serves students throughout the United States and from 50 countries who represent more than 40 denominations. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate majors, 14 master’s programs and two doctoral degrees, plus Division I athletics.
Updated 02-25-2013
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