Norman Named OBU Provost

February 5, 2009

Oklahoma Baptist University President David W. Whitlock has named Dr. Robert Stanton "Stan" Norman to the university's newly created post of provost and executive vice president for campus life.

Norman has served in administrative and teaching roles in higher education for 13 years. For the past two years he has been vice president for university relations at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo. He previously served on the faculty of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for eight years.

"Stan Norman is a gifted administrator and educator who is committed to distinctively Christian and academically excellent higher education," said Dr. Whitlock. "He shares our vision for continually broadening the effectiveness of our university as we approach our second century of service."

Norman will officially begin his tenure on March 1. He will oversee and coordinate with administrators in academic affairs, student development, spiritual life, university advancement, enrollment management and university communications.

A native of Durant, Okla., Norman completed a Ph.D. degree in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1997. He earned a master of divinity degree from the seminary in 1990. He completed a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from The Criswell College in 1987, after completing two years of undergraduate work at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

In his role at Southwest Baptist University, Norman has provided leadership for the university's donor, alumni and church relations activities. He also has served on SBU's planning advisory council, coordinating a year-long planning process in which each administrative area assessed the area's mission, vision and core values.

Norman was an associate professor of theology at the seminary from 2004-06, and occupied the Cooperative Program Chair for Southern Baptist studies. He joined NOBTS as an assistant professor in 1998.

While on the seminary faculty, he created and directed the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry, which provided resources and programs to further the integration of theology and ministry. He also served on the research doctorate oversight committee, which administers the NOBTS Ph.D. degree programs.

He served as an assistant professor of religion at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, S.C., during the 1997-98 academic year. He was an assistant professor of theology and church history at The Criswell College in Dallas, Texas, in 1996-97. While completing his post-graduate studies, Norman was an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and The Criswell College.

In addition to his academic career, Norman has served as a pastor or interim pastor for Baptist churches in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been an author, editor, and contributing writer for several books. He wrote "The Baptist Way: Distinctives of a Baptist Church," released in 2005, and "More Than Just A Name: Preserving Our Baptist Identity," released in 2001. He currently is writing the book "Theology Made Simple," scheduled for release by B&H Publishing Group in 2010.

Norman and his wife, Joy, have three sons, Andrew, 21; Daniel, 18; and Stephen, 16.