Rachel Davis Mersey named SMU Executive Vice President and Provost

DALLAS (SMU) – Rachel Davis Mersey will join SMU as executive vice president and provost on June 1. She will oversee University research and overall academic quality, including admissions, faculty development, international programs, libraries and eight degree-granting schools.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Rachel to SMU,” said SMU President-elect Jay Hartzell. “I know from firsthand experience that she brings a unique skillset, including a relentless focus on excellence and the ability to energize and motivate others to work as part of a team. She combines a passion for students and learning with curiosity and support for research and the creative arts. The entire campus will benefit from her leadership. It’s going to be powerful to see her and the rest of our leadership team build upon the enormous energy and momentum happening at SMU and across Dallas – as together we work to accelerate the trajectory of our University.”

Provost-elect Mersey joins SMU during an era of remarkable upward trajectory for the University, including Carnegie R1 designation for top-tier research activity, a successful first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and conclusion of a multi-year $1.5 billion capital campaign. SMU has expanded its reach and reputation both nationally and globally, with first-year student applications increasing 56% for Fall 2025. She succeeds Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth Loboa, who announced her decision to complete her service at the end of this fiscal year.

“I am honored to join SMU at such an exciting moment,” Mersey said. “I’ve had inspiring conversations with members of the Board of Trustees and University leadership about the vibrant enthusiasm, ambition, and commitment to excellence across campus. I share Dr. Hartzell’s energy and dedication to advancing SMU’s success and look forward to working alongside students, staff and faculty to build on this incredible momentum and further strengthen SMU’s role as a leader in higher education.”

Mersey previously served as executive vice president and provost at The University of Texas at Austin, overseeing a broad portfolio that includes enrollment management and the university’s billion-dollar research enterprise. She has worked extensively with academics and industry partners to research, develop and launch new media products and is an expert in identity salience and media use, the influence of digital media on community building, and understanding audiences and their information needs. 

Prior to becoming EVPP, Dr. Mersey was dean of UT Austin’s Moody College of Communication, where she focused on experiential learning through programs such as Bevo Video Productions and collaborations with Texas Athletics; partnerships across campus and with industry, particularly in Austin, Los Angeles and New York; and driving high-impact research and creative activities across disciplines. 

“With a distinguished background in both academia and industry, Dr. Mersey is the ideal leader to further elevate our academic excellence and expand our impact in Dallas and beyond,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “I join Dr. Hartzell in welcoming Rachel and her family to Dallas and the Hilltop.”

Before joining UT Austin, Mersey was director of global research partnerships at Meta, previously named Facebook. She led an international team and initiative for sharing privacy-protected data with academics to better understand the impact of Facebook and Instagram on the world. She also delivered the first-of-its-kind data-sharing program in support of the U.S. 2020 Facebook and Instagram Election Study.

She began her career in academia as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. She then joined the faculty at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, where she rose through the ranks to professor and associate dean for research. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.S. from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and a B.A. with honors from Wake Forest University in communication and studio art.

Her research has been published in journals across a variety of disciplines and presented at academic and industry conferences, including those for the Paley Center for Media in New York and the American Society of News Editors. She is author of two books, Can Journalism Be Saved? Rediscovering America’s Appetite for News, and Mobile Disruptions in the Middle East.