SMU President R. Gerald Turner announces transition plans for 2025

DALLAS (SMU) – R. Gerald Turner intends to conclude his service as the 10th president of SMU at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. His more than 30 years of leadership has guided the remarkable growth of the University into a prestigious center for teaching and research, fueled by high-performance computing, with a national reputation for excellence.

The Board of Trustees is immediately launching a national search for the next leader of the Dallas-based private university. The executive search firm of Issacson, Miller will assist the Board in the search for the next president.

Turner shared his intentions through a letter to the SMU community Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 21, including the Board’s request that he transition into the role of President Emeritus in 2025. In this new role he will report directly to his successor and continue full-time to support the development and external affairs of the University, including the ongoing SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow fundraising campaign. Expressing his deep appreciation for the honor of serving as SMU’s leader, he stressed that there is still much important work ahead for him.

“We have been fortunate over the past three decades to have the very finest university president in the United States,” said SMU Board of Trustees Chair David B. Miller. “All of those who support SMU and its mission owe a profound debt of gratitude to Dr. Turner, ably aided by Gail Oliver Turner.”

“SMU never would have achieved its current level of national and international respect had it not been for Gerald Turner,” said trustee Ray L. Hunt. “Under Dr. Turner’s leadership, SMU has become one of the most attractive universities in the nation in terms of recruitment of gifted students and exceptional faculty and staff.”

Having assumed the presidency in June 1995, Turner credits SMU’s subsequent growth in stature to the partnership that he and his wife, Gail, have shared with a dedicated Board of Trustees and the University community. SMU ranks in the top 20% of the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report, with three of its graduate programs listed among the publication’s Top 50.

“The Board and I are extremely grateful and proud of our shared success during the past 30 years brought about by the generosity of our supporters and the remarkably creative executive administrators, staff and faculty at SMU,” Turner said in his letter to the community. “Also, there are no words to express the depth of my gratitude and affection for the students attending SMU over the past 30 years.

“Therefore, this transition process is being undertaken with my belief, and that of the Board, that the future success of the University is best assured when leadership changes are made while there is continued, positive momentum toward important agreed-upon future goals,” Turner said. “By assuming the office in 2025, the 11th president will also be able to contribute to the success of SMU Ignited, which is scheduled to conclude in 2028.”

He will transition to President Emeritus whenever the next president of SMU takes office, Turner said, likely on June 1, 2025.

Turner’s leadership has driven the academic and reputational transformation of the University. In 1995, total student enrollment was just over 9,100 students. Today, the University has more than 12,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs across eight degree-granting schools and an operating budget of $861 million. SMU has raised the academic strength of entering undergraduate students, increased the number of doctoral students, increased the enrollment of underrepresented students by more than 30% and quadrupled the University endowment to $2.03 billion. There are 136,000 SMU alumni worldwide, including CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, leaders of civic and non-profit organizations, current and former government officials, entrepreneurs and innovators.

His vision led to a comprehensive 30-year Master Plan that redeveloped the SMU campus into a truly distinctive residential campus experience that is pedestrian-focused and open to the community and its neighbors. SMU built nearly 50 new buildings and facilities during his tenure. New construction and substantial renovation projects include three engineering buildings for the Lyle School of Engineering, two buildings for the Simmons School of Education, the Dedman Life Science Building, Fondren Library Center, Gerald J. Ford Hall for research, Moody Hall for graduate education, the Meadows Museum, five residential halls, a new band hall and multiple athletic facilities, including Ford Stadium and Moody Coliseum. The recently-renovated Cox School of Business will welcome students into its new state-of-the-art facilities this fall. Dallas Hall and McFarlin Auditorium – buildings included in the National Register of Historic Places – all underwent significant renovation and restoration.

SMU launched its first major fundraising campaign, A Time to Lead, shortly after Turner joined SMU, running from 1997-2002 and raising approximately $541 million. SMU Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign ran from 2008-2015 and raised approximately $1.15 billion. The momentum from those first two campaigns provided transformational funding for University academic and athletic facilities, scholarships, academic programs and currently 148 endowed faculty positions.

Turner began leading efforts with the Board of Trustees to secure SMU as the location of the George W. Bush Presidential Center shortly after the election of the 43rd President of the United States. His successful recruitment of the Bush Center, leading to its 2013 opening on the east side of the campus was the highlight of the University’s Centennial Celebration, which ran from 2011-2015. SMU and the Bush Center partner through fellowships, public lectures, the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative and additional collaborations that bring together students, faculty and world-renowned experts to tackle pressing challenges. The Bush Center has brought nearly two million visitors to the area in its first 10 years.

The current major gifts campaign, SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow is 90% toward its $1.5 billion goal after its launch in 2021 and is scheduled to run through 2028. And on July 1, after decades of strategic planning, SMU joined the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference, expanding the University’s reputation both athletically and academically.

Turner’s unwavering support for the Meadows Museum and its development as the premier U.S. institution focused on the study and presentation of Spanish art earned him a prestigious decoration from King Felipe VI of Spain in February 2022. He received the Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Católica in a special ceremony, in which he was recognized for his extraordinary character and accomplishments that have benefited Spain. 

He was the recipient of the 2016 Robert S. Folsom Leadership Award, presented annually by Methodist Health System Foundation to recognize individuals whose demonstrated commitment and excellence in community leadership emulate the achievements of the former Dallas mayor for whom the honor is named. Turner was also honored with the 2001 Henry Cohn Humanitarian Award by the Dallas Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League for his distinguished service and leadership in preserving liberty, counteracting bigotry and advancing the cause of human rights, dignity and equal opportunity. 

While leading SMU Turner has served on the boards of the Dallas Citizens Council, the American Council on Education and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and he co-chaired the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for nearly 10 years. In Texas, he serves on the boards of the Methodist Health System Foundation and the Salvation Army of North Texas.

Before joining SMU, Turner served as chancellor of the University of Mississippi. He previously served in administrative positions at the University of Oklahoma and Pepperdine University.

A native of New Boston, Texas, Turner earned an A.A. degree from Lubbock Christian University, a B.S. in psychology and mathematics from Abilene Christian University and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Gail, have two married daughters and five grandchildren.