OBU Board of Trustees Approves Faculty Promotions

May 11, 2020

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 the importance of focusing on the University’s mission to transform and equip students to make a difference.

“OBU must embrace the urgency of our mission,” he said. “We will double our efforts and double down on strategies to tell OBU’s story, recruit students, equip them, and transform their lives so that they can go into their world and make a difference for God and for good.”

Thomas also spoke to trustees about the plan to bring students back to campus for in-person classes in the fall. OBU will implement recommended health and safety guidelines concerning social distancing and COVID-19 testing, and take extra steps to augment campus cleaning procedures to prepare for students to return for classes on campus in August.

“Our goal is to provide a healthy and safe environment on campus for our students and our employees,” he said.

The academic services committee, chaired by OBU trustee Dr. Eric Costanzo, brought recommendations for faculty promotions, new faculty contracts and updates to the faculty handbook.

Trustees approved faculty promotions for Dr. Alan Noble, from assistant professor to associate professor of English; Dr. Kellie Young, from assistant professor to associate professor of education; Dr. Lakshmi Viswanath, from assistant professor to associate professor of chemistry; Dr. Louima Lilite, McGavern-Montgomery Professorship of Music, from associate professor to professor of music; Dr. Matthew Arbo, Jewell and Joe L. Huitt Professor of Religious Education, from assistant to associate professor of biblical and theological studies; and Dr. Tony Yates, from associate professor to professor of science.

New faculty contracts were approved for Dr. Timothy Darr, assistant professor of computer science, and David Greenwell, Bill and Twyla Horne Professor of Accounting, assistant professor of accounting.

Dr. Jeff Moore, chair of OBU’s Board of Trustees, moderated the board’s plenary session.