David W. Whitlock will assume the OBU presidency on Nov. 3, replacing Mark Brister, who retired last October. During the past year, John Parrish has served as the university's interim president.
Whitlock is the associate provost and dean of the college of business and computer science at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.
"I see now how God has been preparing me each step along the way to serve in this day and place," Whitlock said when his appointment was announced. "So I pledge to you today that I will be a faithful steward of my experience for the betterment of this university."
Oklahoma Baptist was founded in 1910 by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist church. The university has an enrollment of about 1,750 students from 39 states and 21 countries.
Whitlock, who was born in Purcell and graduated from Wayne High School in south-central Oklahoma, has worked at Southwest Baptist since 1999. Before that, he spent 15 years at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant — his alma mater — working as an instructor, a professor and the chairman of that school's business information management program.
He also has served as a pastor of Baptist churches in Bolivar and two Oklahoma towns, Silo and Hendrix.
"From my perspective as the faculty representative on the search committee, Dr. Whitlock has a devotion to Christ, a commitment to and understanding of academic excellence and considerable personal warmth and genuineness that will serve OBU well," said Bill Hagen, a professor of English at OBU.
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It is encouraging to see that the focus of OBU has returned to academics and not the religious whims of the OK Baptist Convention. Brister was the wrong man and everyone knew it. As an OBU graduate I was disappointed in the decision to bring Brister as president, and it was apparent that he couldn't do the job. Hats off to the search committee for understanding what needed to be done and doing the right thing, for alumni and future graduates. At some points I had serious doubts that OBU would be around for my children to attend. I won't hesitate to contribute to the alumni fund when they ask. It looks like another Bob Agee has been found.
Steve, Oklahoma City
Well, Brister was a hand pick of Anthony Jordan, executive director of the BGCO. Brister ran OBU into huge debt and ran a lot of good professors off. He fired the whole development team and then alienated the students. Enrollment reached an all time low until he finally had to leave. Lets just hope that Mr. Whitlock doesn't answer to the puppet string whims of Jordan as did Brister. Oklahoma Baptists needs someone who can buck Jordan's dictatorship ways and make OBU a fine example of a Christan university. It needs to be free of Jordan's Pharacitical style of leadership. OBU needs a champion to restore faith and integrity. If we can just get Jordan to retire it would make my year!
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Steve, Oklahoma City