William Wilson

Dr. William M. Wilson is the fourth president of the globally recognized Oral Roberts University, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Wilson is instrumental in developing Spirit-empowered leaders through whole person education to impact the world. He is known as a global influencer and a dynamic speaker with four decades of executive leadership experience. Wilson is acknowledged for his unwavering ethics, strong business acumen, and an undeniable passion for equipping new generations of leaders.

“World Impact with Dr. Billy Wilson” inspires viewers in over 150 nations and multiple languages. Since 1998, the weekly televised program empowers the audience with Wilson’s unique communication abilities from a biblical worldview.

Wilson served as Vice-Chair of the ORU Board of Trustees prior to his election as the President of ORU in June of 2013 and has led ORU to twelve consecutive years of enrollment growth. Wilson has been instrumental in designing and implementing the Board-approved ORU adaptive plan. Wilson directed the University’s $50 million campaign and 50th Anniversary celebration. Under his leadership, ORU has continued to go “to the uttermost bounds of the Earth” by establishing global alliances on several continents. During Wilson’s tenure as President, ORU saw the completion of the first new campus housing since 1976, offering students the latest technological services while providing efficiently-designed spaces for study and social interaction. Every project has been completed debt-free, including the purchase and redesign of an additional building to house the College of Nursing and the School of Engineering. Wilson championed the building of the ONEOK Sports Complex, complete with state-of-the-art track and tennis facilities. He also directed the construction of a new parking garage and multi-purpose parks for intramural activities and competition. Wilson’s vision to expand ORU’s global footprint paved the way for a $10 million repurposing of 54,000 square feet formally used as a television studio into the Global Learning Center (GLC) utilizing the latest in augmented and virtual reality. ORU is renowned for innovation and advancement in higher education technology.

As Global Co-chair of Empowered21, Wilson’s leadership fosters global partnerships and collaborative initiatives. Empowered21 is a Kingdom initiative launched and hosted at ORU, influencing nations through fourteen regional cabinets comprised of significant Spirit-empowered leaders. Empowered21 attracts Spirit-empowered principals from ministry, academics, and next-generation voices. Sponsoring numerous events in various nations annually, the recent virtual Empowered21 2020 Global Congress surpassed previous record-setting attendance for Spirit-empowered events, with over 100,000 participants representing 197 nations.

As the executive officer of the 2006 Azusa Street Centennial in Los Angeles, Wilson directed the event, which drew over 50,000 attendees from 112 nations. Wilson led the Awakening America Alliance from 2007 to 2013. This ecumenical alliance of 250 denominations and parachurch ministries instituted a national 9-11 prayer focus known as “Cry Out America.” Dr. Wilson was an influential leadership voice in the Church of God of Prophecy and the Church of God organizations, shaping the lives of tens of thousands of people in the USA and some 120 nations. Currently, Wilson is the Chair of the historic Pentecostal World Fellowship. He holds leadership positions with the National Association of Evangelicals, Mission America Coalition, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the City of Tulsa Chamber of Commerce.

Wilson has authored several books, including Father Cry, A-Z Guide on Marriage, A-Z Guide Sexual Intimacy in Marriage, The Parenthood Plan, The Exclusive Claims of Jesus Christ, Today’s Church: A Look at Yesterday’s Church to See Today’s Church More Clearly, Foundations of Faith, Fasting Forward, As the Waters Cover the Sea, (with Dr. Vinson Synan). Wilson’s most recent book, “Gen Z: Born for the Storm” is due for release in late 2020.

A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, Wilson received a Bachelor of Science from Western Kentucky University in Secondary Education. He earned both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Wilson participates in numerous post-doctorate educational opportunities, including the Harvard Institute of University Presidents.