– Miltonvale Wesleyan College is founded in Miltonvale, Kansas. 1910 – RMMES is renamed Colorado Springs Bible College. 1917 – Pilgrim Bible College is founded in Pasadena, California. 1932 – Holiness Evangelistic Institute is founded in El Monte, California. 1959 – Colorado Springs Bible College, Pilgrim Bible College and Holiness Evangelistic Institute merge to become Central Pilgrim College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. 1968 – The Pilgrim Holiness Church and Wesleyan Methodist Church merge to become the Wesleyan Church. Central Pilgrim College becomes Bartlesville Wesleyan College. 1972 – Miltonvale Wesleyan College and Bartlesville Wesleyan College merge and retain the Bartlesville Wesleyan College name. 2001 – Bartlesville Wesleyan College becomes Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Presidents Dr. Leo Cox (1969–1974) Dr. John Snook (1974–1983) Dr. Paul Mills (1983–2002) Dr. Charles Joiner (interim, 2002) Dr. Everett Piper (2002–2019) Dr. James A. Dunn (2019–present) Academics OKWU offers 54 majors through its five schools: its School of Arts & Sciences, School of Ministry & Christian Thought, School of Business, School of Education and Exercise Science, and School of Nursing. Rankings In 2019, it was ranked #85 in Regional Universities West, according to U.S. News & World Report. Athletics The Oklahoma Wesleyan (OKWU) athletic teams are called the Eagles. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference since the 2015–16 academic year. They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Central Region of the Division I level. The Eagles previously competed in the defunct Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) from 1994–95 to 2014–15 (when the conference dissolved). OKWU competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball (added in 2021–22), cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and eSports. Notable alumni Kurt Bahr, Missouri state legislator David Brown, Minnesota state legislator Orval Butcher, minister Jim Garlow, minister, author, political activist Joshua Klumb, South Dakota state legislator Wilbur Nelson, minister and radio broadcaster, Morning Chapel Hour Jordan Tata, professional baseball player References External links Oklahoma Wesleyan athletics website Private universities and colleges in Oklahoma Universities and colleges affiliated with the Wesleyan Church Bartlesville, Oklahoma Educational institutions established in 2001 Evangelicalism in Oklahoma 2001 establishments in Oklahoma