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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University
Melissa Stroud
Melissa Stroud

Melissa Stroud

Director of the Avery T. Willis Center for Global Mobilization

Biography

Melissa joined the staff at OBU in May of 2017 after serving internationally in Thailand for nearly five years. There, she and her husband worked in higher education as an avenue to live their lives on mission. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and raised in Connecticut, her life has been embedded with cross-cultural experiences. Returning to serve at OBU after years of ministry within the context of higher education settings in Hawaii, California, and Thailand has been a beautiful journey. She and her family live in Shawnee with their two kids and enjoy their involvement in the local church and life on campus. Melissa is passionate about encouraging university students to grow in their identity in Christ and respond to the call to make God's name known among the nations.

Education

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Gateway Seminary of the SBC), Mill Valley, California
Master of Theological Studies, 2005 – 2008
Theological Field Education: Northeast China
 
Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, 2005-2007
Ethnographic Research: "Health and Nutrition Study in Yantai, China"
Capstone: "Selecting, Training, Retaining and Supporting Volunteers for International Students"
 
Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK
Bachelor of Arts, 2004
Major: Cross-Cultural Ministry
Minor: Anthropology
International Internship - Youth Ministry, Armidale, NSW, Australia
Indigenous Anthropology Emphasis, University of Hawaii, Manoa