Missouri Baptist University board of trustees installed Dr. Keith L. Ross as the University’s seventh president today, Friday Oct. 19 during an official inauguration ceremony.

Dr. Keith L. Ross assumed the presidency of Missouri Baptist University on January 10, 2018. He is the 7th president in the institution’s history and the first alumni to serve in this role.

Previously, Dr. Ross served as MBU’s senior vice president for university advancement. During his time at MBU, he successfully led three major fundraising campaigns that provided resources to further the University’s mission.

During his inaugural speech, Dr. Ross demonstrated a vision for the University in tandem with the University’s five core values, with an emphasis on faith and letting MBU be a “city on the hill.”

“MBU’s commitment to intellectual inquiry and academic excellence will empower students whose worldview will become not narrower, but broader, not more limited, but more boundless, not more regulated but more abundant,” Dr. Ross said.

“Millions in this world are hungry and many more long for healing, still others who live in a repressive society seek justice. These great needs are met by leaders who possess a servant’s heart and skills that a Christian liberal arts education offers.”

Missouri Baptist University Core Values:

• We are serious and intentional about our Christian faith.
• We will freely and responsibly search for truth.
• We strive for excellence.
• We believe in the importance and cultivation of character.
• We believe in social change through service and leadership.

As the chief enrollment officer, Dr. Ross led the enrollment management team to execute a student recruitment plan that enrolled a balanced and diverse student body. Undergraduate enrollment on MBU’s main campus 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 undergraduate online programs and the University’s new School of Nursing.

In 1987, Dr. Ross earned a bachelor of arts from MBU. He later received his master of arts from Regent University and his doctorate of education from Maryville University. In addition, Dr. Ross has completed post-graduate work at Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.