University Administration Articles and Features

Petersen Hired as Dean of Students and VP of Campus Life

Brandon Petersen, OBU alumnus and director of consulting at JM2 Capital in Oklahoma City, has been hired as the dean of students and vice president of campus life at OBU. He will begin his duties on Bison Hill effective July 20. In his role,…

Lankford to Speak at OBU Commencement Aug. 1

James Lankford, United States Senator from Oklahoma, will deliver the address to graduates during OBU’s Spring Commencement ceremony Saturday, Aug. 1. The ceremony will take place on the south lawn of Raley Chapel on the OBU campus in…

University Statement on Actions to Improve Racial Sensitivity and Equality on Campus

Oklahoma Baptist University stands resolutely against injustice and racial inequalities. We stand against injustice and racism because both mar the image of God imprinted upon all human beings. In light of the murder of George Floyd and the…

OBU’s Statement Regarding Racism and Injustice

OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas issued the following statement Tuesday, June 2, 2020, on behalf of the University: OBU mourns the violence and injustice perpetrated in our country even to this day. The killing of George Floyd…

Honors Program Students Recognized with Scholarship Awards

Four students in the Honors Program at OBU have been recognized with special scholarship awards. The awards are selected by the Honors Program committee based on criteria specific to each scholarship. The Deaton Memorial Scholarship is awarded…

Bullard Earns John Wesley Raley Scholarship

Gage Bullard, rising senior at OBU, has been named the John Wesley Raley Scholar. The John Wesley Raley Scholar receives a scholarship from funds provided by the Fay Taylor Pierson Trust, part of which was designated to establish a memorial to…

Graves Honored with Evans T. Moseley Leadership Award

Noah Graves, rising senior at OBU, has won the University’s Evans T. Moseley Leadership Award for the 2019-20 academic year. The award is given to a rising senior who demonstrates the greatest leadership potential. It was established…

Stokes Honored with Rosalee Mills Appleby Award as Outstanding Senior Woman at OBU

Chloe Stokes of Shawnee received OBU’s Rosalee Mills Appleby Award, the highest award given for a senior woman at the University. The presentation was made by OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas in a surprise visit to her home. Awards…

Manlapig Honored with W.P. Blake Award as Outstanding Senior Man at OBU

Mitchell Manlapig of Shawnee received OBU’s W.P. Blake Award, the highest award given for a senior man at the University. The presentation was made by OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas in a surprise visit to Manlapig’s…

OBU Board of Trustees Approves Faculty Promotions

The Oklahoma Baptist University Board of Trustees approved faculty promotions and new faculty appointments during their spring meeting held via Zoom May 8. During his report to the Board of Trustees, Dr. Heath Thomas, OBU president, emphasized…

OBU Sets Spring Commencement for Aug. 1

OBU has announced the new date and time for its 2020 Spring Commencement. The event will take place Saturday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be held in Raley Chapel on OBU’s campus in Shawnee. OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas…

Darr and Greenwell Join Faculty of OBU Dickinson College of Business

The Paul Dickinson College of Business at OBU recently hired two new full-time faculty members. Dr. Timothy Darr, assistant professor of computer science, and David Greenwell, MBA, CPA, Bill and Twylah Horne Professorship in Accounting and…

Maples Joins OBU as Director of Admissions

OBU has hired Taylor Maples as the University’s director of admissions. He assumed the role April 20. Maples earned an Associate of Arts in general studies at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado. He earned a…

OBU Professor Bandy to Join New Orleans Seminary

Dr. Alan Bandy, Rowena R. Strickland associate professor of New Testament, has accepted a position at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) as professor of New Testament and Greek, occupying the Robert Hamlin Chair of New Testament…

Emerson Named Dean of Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry

OBU has appointed Dr. Matthew Emerson as dean of the Herschel H. Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry and the Floyd K. Clark Chair of Christian Leadership. Emerson has served as interim dean since January 2020 along with his duties as…

OBU Undergraduates Begin Online Learning for Remainder of Spring Semester

Oklahoma Baptist University undergraduate students began their first day of fully online learning Monday, March 23, the first day following spring break. The University announced Friday, March 20, that the remainder of the spring semester would…

OBU to Continue with Fully Online Learning for Remainder of Spring 2020 Semester

OBU announced Friday, March 20, that all courses will be delivered in an online format for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester. The announcement was made through the following statement from OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas: “I…

OBU Moves to Online Learning for Minimum of Two Weeks Following Spring Break

Oklahoma Baptist University has moved to online learning for a minimum of two weeks in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The University goes on Spring Break from March 16-20 and will then deliver all courses online from March…

OBU Releases Public Statement on University Response to Coronavirus

Dr. Heath A Thomas, OBU president, issued the following statement Thursday, March 12, 2020, regarding the University’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19): “We are monitoring the realities on the ground regarding the…

Five OBU Faculty Members Earn Senior Faculty Status

Five OBU faculty members recently attained senior faculty status. The recommendation was approved by the OBU Board of Trustees during their meeting March 6 on the OBU campus. The group of newly appointed senior faculty members includes Dr.…