Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell Named As ORU Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations

Distinguished State Leader and ORU Alumnus to Assume University Role December 1, 2026, Following Completion of Service to Oklahoma

TULSA, OK, March 25, 2026-Oral Roberts University (ORU) announced the appointment of Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell as Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, effective December 1, 2026. The appointment of Lt. Gov. Pinnell-a proud ORU alumnus-represents a landmark moment for the University as it accelerates toward its most ambitious season of growth, global impact, and mission advancement in its six-decade history.

Lt. Gov. Pinnell, who has served the State of Oklahoma with integrity and distinction, will conclude his major duties in state government before assuming his new role, ensuring a transition that reflects his deep commitment to both public service and the State. His appointment unites a lifetime of professional excellence, executive leadership, and personal faith with the University that shaped his character, values, and calling.

"Matt Pinnell is, in every sense of the word, a leader, and he has been from the moment he walked onto this campus as a student," said Dr. William M. Wilson, President of Oral Roberts University. "He carries the DNA of this institution in his spirit. He understands, at the deepest level, ORU's impact in the world. His record of service to the State of Oklahoma has been exemplary. I am convinced he will bring the same visionary energy, relational integrity, and Spirit-empowered conviction given to the Lieutenant Governor's office, to this University."

Lt. Gov. Pinnell expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to return to the institution that set the foundation for his life and career.

"Oral Roberts University did not simply educate me-it formed me," said Lt. Gov. Pinnell. "Every room I have walked into, every relationship I have built, every challenge I have faced in public life has been shaped by the values, the faith, and the whole-person development I received on this campus. To come home-to serve the University that gave so much to me, and to serve alongside President Wilson at this historic moment in ORU's story-is both a profound honor and a personal calling. Serving Oklahoma as the Lieutenant Governor has been a privilege, and I will give everything I have to my state until the final day of that service. With that same wholehearted commitment, I will dedicate myself to ORU's mission-connecting this extraordinary institution with the resources and the relationships it needs to fulfill its God-given mandate to impact every nation on earth."

Matt Pinnell, a graduate of Oral Roberts University, was elected as the 17th Lieutenant Governor of the State of Oklahoma in 2018, carrying all 77 counties. He was subsequently re-elected in 2022. Lt. Gov. Pinnell has earned a reputation as a bridge-builder, a results-oriented executive, and a committed public servant of the highest order. He is known as a proven advocate for economic development, tourism, workforce innovation, and the people of Oklahoma.

The University simultaneously announced that current Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Mike Carter will continue to serve in his role through December 31, 2026, ensuring a thorough transition of leadership.

"Mike Carter has given ORU a profound and lasting gift," said President Wilson. "His faithfulness, his professionalism, and his genuine love for this institution have made an indelible mark on our story. Every new building on this campus, every student whose life has been changed because resources were available, every nation touched by ORU's mission-Mike's fingerprints are on all of it. He is a man of extraordinary character, and we honor him with deep gratitude and the highest respect."

President Wilson added, "God has been faithful to this University from the very beginning, and He is not finished with us yet. Oral Roberts University is stepping into the greatest season of impact, influence, and harvest in our history. Matt Pinnell's appointment could not be a better fit for him, for this University, and for the mission we are called to advance together."

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 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. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.