Letter from SMU President and Chair of the Board of Trustees
One year into our historic campaign, SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow, the future of our University has never looked brighter. By providing more than $200 million in gift revenue, our donors set a new record for giving in a single year to SMU. These gifts have combined with multiyear pledges to drive the SMU Ignited campaign over $900 million toward our $1.5 billion goal.
Donor investments fuel accomplishment in every area of the University. New schools and academic centers advance our contributions to many fields of knowledge. Technologically equipped academic facilities and championship-caliber athletic facilities enhance the performance of all our students. And support for our remarkable students further expands educational opportunities for people from all backgrounds – something the recently launched Opportunity SMU student support fund will accelerate.
This year, we also mourned great losses to our community. Renowned energy industry leader Cary M. Maguire, Sr. served 24 years on the SMU Board of Trustees and established the Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility and the Maguire Energy Institute in the Cox School of Business. Respected humanitarian Peter O’Donnell, Jr. served on SMU boards and committees for nearly two decades and through the O’Donnell Foundation supported SMU-in-Taos, Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Meadows School of the Arts and the Data Science Institute at SMU. Their impact on the University, its students and its mission cannot be overstated.
Now, as we look to the future of our SMU and our community, we remain thankful for the contributions of our donors and the dedication that your involvement inspires across the Hilltop. Throughout this report, you’ll see how our donors make possible achievements by our students, faculty and staff, as well as the University’s growing impact in Dallas and beyond.
On behalf of the SMU administration and Board of Trustees, we thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to forge a brighter tomorrow for our students, our research and our ever-growing community across the globe.
