Oklahoma Christian University announces new president, effective 2023

Carla Hinton, Oklahoman
·2 min read
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A leadership change is in the works at a local private Christian university.

Ken Jones, the school's current chancellor, will become the new president of Oklahoma Christian University, effective May 2023, Mark Brewer, chairman of the school's board of trustees, said Wednesday in a letter on behalf of the board.

Jones will succeed current President John deSteiguer, who will become the university's chancellor. Oklahoma Christian University, 2501 E Memorial Road, is affiliated with Churches of Christ, an association of independent Christian congregations.

Ken Jones
Ken Jones

"OC is blessed by the leadership of these two exceptional leaders who have devoted their careers to furthering Christian education," Brewer said in the board's statement.

Jones, a native Oklahoman, was appointed as the university's chancellor in 2021. He formerly served as president of Lubbock Christian University for 19 years and the Texas school's chancellor for five years.

"Dr. Jones has dedicated much of his career to ministry and leadership coaching and is highly regarded in the business world and in churches, nonprofits, and Christian institutions across the country," Brewer said in the board's letter. "We are grateful for his willingness to serve as OC President and know that he and his wife Suzie will be a blessing to our entire campus community."

Jones, Brewer said, is a farmer and rancher with a doctoral degree in agricultural engineering from Oklahoma State University and a gifted preacher who has served as a pulpit minister in Oklahoma and Texas.

In 2012, deSteiguer was appointed Oklahoma Christian University's president.

"The Trustees express their sincere gratitude to President deSteiguer and Darla for their dedicated, exemplary service to the University over the last decade plus," Brewer said the board's letter.

Wednesday, he noted that deSteiguer’s tenure as president is "defined by notable achievements including record-setting advancement efforts, innovative changes to program delivery and strengthening connections across our campus and community."

"President deSteiguer championed groundbreaking speakers and events that have challenged and inspired our OC community," the letter said. "During his time, he oversaw transformational capital improvements on campus while simultaneously leading efforts to reduce debt."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Christian University to get new president in May 2023