Elisabeth Martin Armstrong ’82 and William D. Armstrong ’82
The Armstrongs met as geology majors at SMU and married in 1984. While at SMU, Liz Armstrong served as treasurer of Pi Beta Phi and performed in Pigskin Revue and Parents’ Weekend with its song group. She also served as an AARO, or orientation, leader. Bill Armstrong was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, the Honor Council and the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Both attended geology field camp at SMU-in-Taos, where they fell in love and later provided the funding for Casita Armstrong. Together, they propelled a startup into Armstrong Oil and Gas, an energy exploration juggernaut; founded the award-winning Epoch Estate Wines; and established The Armstrong Foundation, which focuses on arts and education philanthropy. Over the years, their farsighted generosity has enriched countless lives at SMU and across the nation.
Through their leadership and loyal support, the Armstrongs have been change-makers at SMU. Liz Armstrong serves on the Development and External Affairs Standing Committee of the SMU Board and co-chairs the SMU Ignited Campaign Steering Committee for Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. Bill Armstrong serves on the SMU Board of Trustees and co-chairs the SMU Ignited Campaign Steering Committee for Athletics. He currently spearheads the Vision 2025 campaign for football excellence. Both also serve on the executive boards of SMU-in-Taos and Dedman College, for which Liz Armstrong is a former chair. Their past service includes co-chairing the Parent Leadership Council and the Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Denver.
Recipients of the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award, the Armstrongs are among three generations of family to attend the University – including their daughters, Lindsey Strawn ’10 and Leigh Young ’11 – and their investments across the campus reflect their commitment to enhancing the student experience. In 2011, they were the first to commit toward the construction of Armstrong Commons, a cornerstone of SMU’s living-learning community. More recently, they made possible Armstrong Fieldhouse, the primary component of the Indoor Performance Center. A passion for ballet led them to fund the Armstrong Visiting Artist-in-Residence in Ballet at Meadows School of the Arts during the 2020–21 academic year, and they also endowed a Dedman College Scholarship. In September 2022, they made one of the lead gifts toward the Garry Weber End Zone Complex at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
At Dedman College, outstanding students connect with global thinkers and expert problem-solvers through interdisciplinary education and partnerships. Dedman College students build an academic foundation that energizes their future, giving them a competitive edge in fields and disciplines like literature, economics, the natural sciences, language arts, medicine, law, business and technology, among others. Dedman College is the foundation of most students’ academic experience on the Hilltop, acting as the entry point for nearly every undergraduate degree program and serving as the focal point for humanities and science education and enrichment. SMU’s largest academic unit, Dedman College includes 16 academic departments, nearly 100 undergraduate majors and minors, and more than 30 postgraduate opportunities.
SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow
SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they direct change in their professions, communities and the world. Building on its history of excellence, the University has launched SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow – a multiyear $1.5 billion campaign to empower outstanding students, to enrich teaching and research, and to enhance our campus and community.
