Message from the President

SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow has garnered over $800 million in donations, more than halfway toward our $1.5 billion goal. The multiyear campaign for impact continues to galvanize our community to fuel the University’s impact.

Fittingly, the just-announced gift that pushed us past $800 million came from The Dedman Foundation. The family’s $5 million gift will support a campaign priority to make SMU available to outstanding students regardless of financial need.

In these pages, you will read about a new, landmark gift that will change the course of Mustang football. The Garry Weber Foundation contributed $50 million – the largest gift ever made to SMU Athletics – to construct the Garry Weber End Zone Complex in Gerald J. Ford Stadium. This modern facility will create additional seating and critical new spaces, propelling SMU football to the highest levels of competition.

Men’s golf received $2 million from Jerry William Pittman ’58 to endow the head coach position, the first in SMU’s history. With our highly regarded new head football coach, Rhett Lashlee, and the recent success of our student-athletes on and off the field, SMU Athletics continues to rise.

Donors also fuel our academic successes. In December, SMU broke ground on Frances Anne Moody Hall, the new home for the Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. Moody Dissertation Fellows, empowered by funding from the Moody Foundation, continue to make breakthrough discoveries in their research. Part of that research will be fueled by the SMU Data Science Institute, which recently received a $2 million commitment from the O’Donnell Foundation to create, endow and name the director position after Peter O’Donnell, Jr.

Great momentum also continues on the Cox School of Business renovation and expansion project. Kim and William C. Shaddock ’74 contributed $6 million to establish Shaddock Hall. Katy A. and Kyle D. Miller ’01 committed $5 million to create the Katy and Kyle Miller Courtyard.

We hope you enjoy reading about the latest campaign events and the successes our donors make possible. Pony Up!

R. GERALD TURNER
President