By Laurie Babinski
Editor in Chief
There’s no place like home. At least, not for Dr. Mike O’Neal.
The problem is, he and his family have two of them.
The two worlds collided Friday when Vice Chancellor O’Neal, an Oklahoma native, was named the fifth president of Oklahoma Christian University.
O’Neal, a 25-year Pepperdine administrator and elder in the Malibu Church of Christ, was named after a national search that included more than 60 applications and nominations.
O’Neal is the latest in a steady stream of administrators who have either retired or left for new jobs. There is no indication that O’Neal was asked to leave. In fact, O’Neal said the new job was an act of divine intervention.
“I truly believe it’s a calling from God,” O’Neal said. “I was not eager to leave Pepperdine. We’re very happy here.”
“I’m not a person who believes you get physical signs from God,” he said. “But there were so many things that fell together.”
O’Neal came to Pepperdine in 1971 after teaching accounting and finance at Harding University. “I loved teaching,” he said.
“But I didn’t want to continue doing that full time. I’m practical. I needed to be out in the real world,” he added.
O’Neal has served in various administrative roles at Pepperdine since 1976, including vice chancellor, general counsel, and vice president for finance and chief financial officer.
He has managed donor relations, supervised the purchase of the new graduate campus land, and stabilized the financial future of the university.
“Dr. O’Neal has had a tremendous impact on Pepperdine during his 25-year career,” President Dr. Andrew K. Benton said in a press release. “His integrity, professionalism, and deep commitment to his faith have enriched our community in countless ways. He and his wife, Nancy, will be missed, but we know what a great opportunity his appointment represents and they go with our prayers and best wishes.”
O’Neal is also a lifelong member and cornerstone of the Church of Christ and has served as an elder, Bible class teacher, church choir song leader, preacher and ministry leader.
“Mike and Nancy truly are very giving people, regarding everything they have as a blessing from God they can use to bless other people,” said Joe Peebles, a friend of the O’Neals.
“I’m very excited for him, and from what I’ve heard about how he’s helped Pepperdine, and what Oklahoma Christian needs, he will be a great match for the university.”
“Now our work and our soul is here,” O’Neal said. “We’ll truly miss all the people here. Thank goodness for e-mail.”
O’Neal will succeed Dr. Kevin Jacobs, who resigned in May 2001.
Oklahoma Christian University was founded in 1950 and is located on a 200-acre campus in north Oklahoma City.
The university has 2,100 students in more that 70 different undergraduate degree programs.
“We are delighted that Dr. O’Neal and his wife, Nancy, have accepted our offer to become president of Oklahoma Christian.
He has extensive experience in higher education, especially Christian education and has had remarkable success as a fund-raiser and leader,” Ralph Chain, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Oklahoma Christian, said in Saturday’s press release.
O’Neal will continue at Pepperdine until May, traveling to Oklahoma four to five days a month to smooth the transition.
O’Neal is looking forward to the challenges that await him in Oklahoma.
“There’s always something attractive about being able to set the tone for your own organization,” O’Neal said.
“But I’m also looking forward to being back with a lot of friends.”
O’Neal attended Oklahoma Christian from 1964-66 before transferring to Harding University to finish his undergraduate degree in accounting and business in 1968.
He earned his juris doctorate from Stanford University with a concentration in business and tax law in 1974. He was among the top graduates in his class.
O’Neal also served as an assistant professor of business administration and a planned giving officer at Harding University from 1974-76.
As a certified public accountant, he has also worked with the accounting firms of Coopers & Lybrand, Touche Ross & Co. and Ernst & Ernst during various times in his carreer.
O’Neal also served in the military, receiving the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service while serving in the Navy in Vietnam.
The O’Neals have two grown children, Michael and Amanda.
“I just hope that people will see me as a good servant in the sense that Jesus was a good servant when he was here,” O’Neal said.
“That’s all that matters.”
January 24, 2002