ORU Announces the Appointment of New Board of Trustees Members

Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 21, 2026-During the Spring Board meeting held from April 14th to 16th, on its campus, Oral Roberts University (ORU) announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees. The new trustees are Dr. Timothy Dresselhaus and Phil Liberatore.

ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson shared, "We are honored to welcome Dr. Timothy Dresselhaus and Phil Liberatore to the ORU Board of Trustees. These two men bring distinguished professional achievements, a heart for service, and a clear commitment to Christian leadership. I look forward to the insight and strength they will bring as we continue advancing the mission of Oral Roberts University to raise up Whole Leaders for the Whole World."

ORU Board of Trustees Class of 2035

Dr. Timothy Dresselhaus is Clinical Professor Emeritus at the School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego. He received his bachelor's degree in history from the University of California, San Diego, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, while also winning the Armin Rappaport Prize, the Department of History's highest honor. He received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of California, San Diego, serving an additional year as chief medical resident before joining the faculty. He earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Washington, Seattle.

His professional career has spanned healthcare administration, health services research, and medical education. He served as chief of primary care at the VA San Diego Healthcare System and in national leadership roles for the Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C. As the author or co-author of thirty-five research articles, he has been a principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or co-investigator on multiple funded research projects. He is a charter member of the San Diego Chapter of the American Jewish Medical Association, which was formed in response to the events of October 7, 2023, to combat anti-Semitism in the health sciences. He is president of the Emeriti Association of the University of California, San Diego.

He has served the local church as an elder, teacher, and musician, and has held leadership roles supporting world missions (Assemblies of God World Missions Board; Board Chair, China Training Network), Christian higher education (Trustee, Vanguard University), and efforts to end abortion (Founding Board Member, El Cajon Pregnancy Care Center), as well as advocating for Biblical positions on human origins and medical ethics.

He is the author of Seven Deadly Lies in the Culture and the Church; The Preeminent Jesus in My Father, My Pastor: Making Christ First at Home and at Church; and The Crimson Thread: Tracing the Story of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation.

He lives with his wife, Shari, in San Diego, California, and they are the parents of two adult children, Noah and Emma.

Phil Liberatore is the Founder and President of two successful Southern California companies - Philip L. Liberatore, CPA, and IRS Problem Solvers, Inc. Phil is nationally recognized for his expertise with the IRS, and has helped thousands of clients across the US successfully resolve all types of complex IRS issues.

Phil is also actively involved in many non-profit organizations and charities close to his heart, and some of his most rewarding work comes through his philanthropy. Phil has built a small business empire over the years, and his success has only increased his determination and desire to help others. He has a strong passion for people and helping them reach their full potential in life. Phil is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master's degree in business administration/finance.

With a heart to help people in the area of finance and as an ordained minister, Phil combines his professional expertise and counsels clients in need of financial guidance from a Biblical perspective. Working with clients in this way inspired him to write his first book in 2009, God, Money & You. He has since authored How to Solve All of Your Financial Problems; An Inside Look at the IRS; and, most recently, Discovering Your Edge for a Fruitful Life.

Phil treasures his time with his wife, Dana, whether at home or traveling. They have two grown daughters, two grandsons, William Laurence and John Joseph, and reside in Whittier, California.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to welcome these outstanding new members to ORU's governing board," said Board of Trustees Chair Joe Dobbins. "Each of them brings valuable perspective, leadership, and a shared commitment to the vision of the University. We are grateful for their willingness to serve, and I look forward to the wisdom and strength they will bring to the Board."

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.