A publishing industry veteran with more than 20 years experience in Christian book publishing, Tessie DeVore has been added to the 25-member board of trustees of Tulsa, Okla.-based Oral Roberts University (ORU).

DeVore—who has served as the executive vice president of Charisma House, the book group of Charisma Media, since 2006—has worked for the company formerly known as Strang Communications since 1993.

"Charisma Media has enjoyed a long, supportive relationship with ORU that dates back to my friendship with its founder, Oral Roberts," said Steve Strang, founder of Charisma Media, publisher of Charisma, Ministry Today and Christian Retailing magazines. "We're proud to see Tessie further our relationship with this board appointment."

A Cuban-Puerto Rican, DeVore was the first female president of the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association (2005-2008), and was also the first person to serve two consecutive terms with the organization.

The leadership of Mart Green and Mark Rutland at ORU "is admirable—and what they have accomplished in these past few years is remarkable," DeVore said. "ORU's potential is tremendous."

Green, founder of Mardel Christian & Education stores, who pledged $70 million in 2007 to help the debt-ridden school, is ORU's board chairman. An author and speaker, Rutland was named the president of ORU in 2009.

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