President Keith Ross assumed the presidency in January 2018 and began his tenure at MBU in 1992. During his time at MBU, he has successfully led three major fundraising campaigns that have provided resources to further the University’s Christ-centered mission.

In 1987, Dr. Ross earned a bachelor of arts in religion from MBU. He earned a master of arts in organizational leadership in 2008 from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 2014, he earned his doctorate of education in higher education leadership from Maryville University in St. Louis. In addition, Ross has completed postgraduate work at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.

Dr. Ross previously served as MBU’s senior vice president university advancement. He oversaw the areas of undergraduate enrollment, development, marketing and communications, financial services, alumni relations and special events. As the chief enrollment officer, President Ross led the enrollment management team to execute a student recruitment plan that enrolls a balanced and diverse student body. Undergraduate enrollment on MBU’s main campus has increased 30 percent over the past decade culminating in the largest freshman class in University history in 2017. Recently, Dr. Ross was instrumental in launching both the University’s School of Nursing and its new adult and online programs.

Dr. Ross and his wife Ginger have been married for 24 years, and they have one daughter, Madaline, who attends The University of Tulsa. The Rosses, both lifelong Missouri Baptists, are currently members of Fellowship of Wildwood in West St. Louis County.

Dr. Andy Chambers serves as Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs, as well as Professor of Bible. Chambers graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned an M.Div. and a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and did additional study at Baylor University. Chambers also completed Harvard University’s Institute for Education Management and the Council of Independent Colleges Executive Leadership Academy.

In 2012 Chambers published Exemplary Life: A Theology of Church Life in Acts with B&H Academic. He has presented papers at numerous conferences, including the Society of Biblical Literature, Evangelical Theological Society, and the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion. He helped found MBU’s faith and learning journal Intégrité and currently serves on its advisory board. Chambers has published many articles on scholarly and ministry related topics. He also serves on the planning team of Young Scholars in the Baptist Academy, a faculty development seminar that meets each year at Oxford University. Chambers currently serves as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. He is heavily involved in church and denominational life. He preaches regularly in churches and conference setting and has served on a number of boards and committees. Most recently he chaired the Southern Baptist Convention’s Committee on Order of Business.

Chambers has been married for thirty years to Diana. They have four children and two grandchildren. He loves coffee, music, theology, old books, and good conversation about important ideas like the future of Christian higher education.

Senior Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and University Communications

Mr. Oran Woodworth,

Vice President, Business Affairs

Mr. Woodworth received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and Management from California Baptist University and a Master of Science in Management from Liberty University.

For more than fifteen years, Mr. Woodworth has enjoyed a successful career as a university leader in business, finance and accounting operations. Most recently he served as Assistant Vice President Fiscal Affairs/Controller at Lindenwood University and prior to that served as Controller at Hannibal LaGrange University.

Vice President of Student Development

Associate Vice President for Graduate Affairs, Dean of School of Education and Associate Professor of Education

Dr. Lydia Thebeau, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Accreditation, Professor of Biology, came to MBU in the fall of 2005 as an Assistant Professor of Biology. Dr. Thebeau earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology at Hannibal-LaGrange College and subsequently completed her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at Saint Louis University. Working in the division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Dr. Thebeau’s doctoral research focused on the role of co-stimulation in T-cell activation and antibody class-switching in response to viral infection. Dr. Thebeau completed a short post-doctoral fellowship in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine’s BJC Hospital before accepting her first academic appointment at Saint Louis University. Dr. Thebeau currently serves MBU full time as the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Accreditation, while still teaching part-time in the Natural Sciences Division. Personally, Dr. Thebeau is married to Michael, and has three children: Rebekah (Bekah), Blake, and Bailey. Her interests include long distance running, reading, watching her children’s sporting events, cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Vikings.

Education:
B.A. in Biology, Hannibal-LaGrange College, 1995
Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University, 2002

Vice President for University Advancement

Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics, Professor of Education/Health and Sport Sciences

Dr. Aaron Lumpkin serves as Associate Vice President for Spiritual Formation and Assistant Professor of Theology at Missouri Baptist University. He has served in pastoral ministry and Christian higher education for nearly a decade. Currently, he serves as a pastor of the Church of the Redeemer in St. Louis. Aaron is the co-author of The Sum and Substance of the Gospel: The Christ-Centered Piety of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He has written other publications with The Gospel Coalition and various academic journals. His research interests include early American Christianity, Baptist History, and Christian higher education. He and his wife, Sara, have five children.

Education
Ph.D., Historical Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, 2020
M.Div., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, 2013
B.A., Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Exposition, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, 2010