Ouachita president gets faculty vote of no confidence; board of trustees sides with Sells

PHOTO: Ouachita Baptist University President Ben Sells | OBU directory

This post has been updated to include an official statement from Sells.

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — Ouachita Baptist University President Ben Sells this week got poor reviews from a majority of faculty members. The university’s board of trustees, however, feels otherwise.

There appears to be a distrust between faculty and administration based on daily interactions with Ouachita’s 16th president, who has served in the role since 2016.

In a reported 52-21 vote by faculty members to oust Sells, the university’s Board of Trustees met in special session Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to reverse the decision.

Unlike its public counterpart across the ravine at Henderson State, OBU does not have a faculty senate to air its grievances to administration. What it does have is a council that, among other duties, helps guide policy-making. Because it’s a private institution, Ouachita is not subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act. Faculty members who spoke with The Arkadelphian did so under conditions of anonymity.

In a campus-wide email that was later shared with The Arkadelphian, a faculty member complained that Sells had treated them “in ways that I do not consider to be fair, honest or respectful — and I have heard this repeated often enough to believe it to be a problem. I have observed and heard concerns that our shared governance groups have been rebuffed when they have tried to open conversations about campus issues.”

In a response to faculty, Ouachita’s Board of Trustees chairman Scott Street replied in an email sent to faculty and staff that, despite the faculty’s vote of no confidence, the board reaffirmed its unanimous support for Sells.

“During his nine-year tenure, Ouachita has been strengthened while fortifying its commitment to Arkansas Baptists and its distinctly Christian mission,” Street said. “As a board, we pledge to lead a thoughtful and responsive process that addresses concerns with the attention and care they deserve. The Board and President Sells are committed to listening, engaging in dialogue and working to ensure a strong and sustainable future for Ouachita’s Christ-centered learning community.”

The email went on to praise Sells for his abilities to communicate “frequently and transparently” with trustees given his regular updates on successes and challenges that Ouachita faces.

A media inquiry to the president’s office Thursday morning was directed to the university’s office of communications and marketing. Multiple calls to that office went unanswered.

Later on Thursday afternoon OBU posted to Facebook under the message “In response to reports and questions about Tuesday’s faculty meeting, below is a statement from President Ben Sells. Those who would like to share input can email feedback@obu.edu.” Sells’s statement is as follows:

“We’re preparing for finals week and Ouachita’s largest Commencement in history. Everyone at Ouachita shares the same goal — an academically excellent and distinctly Christian education. It’s why students and parents choose Ouachita. Sometimes there can be disagreement on how best to accomplish that goal. I sincerely respect the thoughts and input of faculty, staff, students, alumni, Arkansas Baptists and everyone who cares about Ouachita. We will be diligent in our efforts to collaborate with our stakeholders in an even more intentional way. The Bible reminds us to be humble, gentle, and patient with one another during times of disagreement, and that’s my approach. We covet your prayers.”