Tulsa Human Rights Commission Presents Compassionate Service Award to ORU's Michael Brose

Tulsa, Oklahoma, July 8, 2025-Adjunct Professor Michael Brose, a member of Oral Roberts University's (ORU) Social Work program, recently received Tulsa's Lifetime of Compassionate Service Award. Presented by the Tulsa Human Rights Commission, this award recognizes Brose's service to those struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, and homelessness. "To receive this award when there are so many deserving people is very humbling," said Brose. "At the same time, it is extremely meaningful, and I hope I can continue to express and practice compassion for the rest of my life as a social worker, and more so, as a human being and Christian in this broken world." Brose, who served approximately 25 years as the CEO of the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma (MHAOK), has led vital initiatives that provide care and resources to Tulsa's vulnerable populations. In the past 45 years, he has been an active social worker, serving individuals and families facing significant challenges. When asked what compassion means to him, Brose shared: "In my view, compassion must always be attached to some form of action and intervention. Get involved through your church or civic organization-volunteer on nonprofit boards and in service delivery. Meet the people affected and listen to their stories. As a practicing social worker trained at ORU, I have always sought to intervene and help individuals and their families. Whether through supervising and training others in the work, improving service delivery systems, or working to change cultural and societal attitudes toward people affected by these situations, showing compassion is always active." In his leadership as the CEO of MHAOK, Brose has united staff, board members, and the community in reducing stigma and removing barriers to needed services to support wellness and recovery programs, activities, and initiatives. His commitment to suicide prevention through QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper training and his tireless support for those suffering from mental illness and drug addiction have impacted hundreds of individuals and families. Reflecting on his lifelong service and what has been the most meaningful to him in his work, Brose shared, "The most meaningful part of serving is listening to everyone's stories. It's asking questions to better understand the trauma they have been put through. It's allowing them to educate me on what happens to people facing those kinds of challenges and seeing how I can help them recover." UNIVERSITY BRIEF ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 16 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. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 165 nations in the last 5 years to be whole leaders for the whole world. The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2025). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest-ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche has recognized ORU as one of the top 25 most diverse colleges in America, the # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and the # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest. Heritage.org classified ORU as a great option for families prioritizing freedom, opportunity, and civil society. ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as: #1 in Undergraduate Teaching #2 in Most International Students #3 in Best Value #6 in Best College for Veterans #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West For more information, visit https://www.oru.edu.